Man accused of assaulting grandmother

A Mount Airy man has been jailed without bond on a felony assault charge for allegedly causing a severe head injury to his 81-year-old grandmother, according to city police reports.

The case involving Nicholas Richard Martin, 37, of 709 Factory St., stems from a weekend incident at that residence, where the victim, Dorothy V. Fairchild, also lives. She additionally is a cancer patient, a family member said.

Martin, who is listed as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 230 pounds, is accused of pushing the elderly woman down Saturday, causing a severe laceration to her head.

Multiple city officers responding to an assault call at the home found that the injury had left the woman’s skull exposed, arrest records state.

A family spokesman said Tuesday afternoon that the injuries to Fairchild also exceeded what was reflected in police reports.

“She wound up with 15 stitches in her head and a broken elbow,” that person disclosed. The injured woman was taken to Northern Regional Hospital, treated and released.

But in light of all that, the victim “is doing OK,” the family member added.

After being placed under arrest and taken to the Mount Airy Police Department for processing, Martin repeatedly hit his head against a wall there, records show. This caused drywall damage put at $25.

No drug or alcohol use was involved, according to police.

Martin subsequently was charged with assault, inflicting serious bodily injury, and injury to property.

He was taken before a local magistrate who ordered that Martin be held in the Surry County Jail without privilege of bond.

Martin had an initial hearing in District Court on Monday, and is facing another appearance in that court on May 20.

Police Chief Dale Watson addressed the case Tuesday afternoon.

“This type of offense is disturbing because it victimizes some of our most vulnerable individuals,” Watson commented.

“This issue is not very prevalent in our community,” the police chief added regarding elder abuse, “but very troubling when it does occur.”