Ville Platte man accused of beating elderly disabled veteran

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A 29-year-old Ville Platte man has been arrested and accused of striking an elderly disabled veteran with a tire iron at a Nuba gas station on Valentine’s Day.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said Kenneth Paul Shergold, of the 200 block of Freddie Dunn Road, Ville Platte, was charged on Wednesday with one count of simple battery to the infirm and one count of aggravated second-degree battery.
Video showed Shergold sitting in his Kia Rio near the gas pumps when a blue GMC pickup driven by the 65-year-old victim pulled into the station, Guidroz said in a news release.
Shergold exited his vehicle, approached the victim from behind and, for no apparent reason, struck him numerous times in the head, back and body with a tire iron, Guidroz said.
Shergold dropped the tire iron and then began striking the victim with his fist and knees, Guidroz said.
Shergold then left the scene.
Crime Stoppers spokesman Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux said the incident was posted on social media and to news media, which was followed by tips.
An anonymous tip identified Shergold and detectives began searching for him on Feb. 15.
Another tip was received on Feb. 18 on the Crime Stoppers P3 app advising that the suspect that beat up the elderly man in Nuba, was involved in an assault of a female at the Super Walmart Center in Ville Platte, Guidroz stated.
Ville Platte Police and the city Marshals joined the investigation.
“The victim stated she was approached by an unidentified white male, (later identified as Kenneth Shergold), when suddenly, he grabbed her by the arm. The victim pushed Shergold away, and he told her, ‘I must have lost my mind,’ then fled in his car. The victim and additional witnesses identified Shergold and his vehicle as the same person who was seen in the Nuba video,” Guidroz said in the news release.
Shergold’s vehicle was found at the Freddie Dunn address.
Shergold was then taken to Ville Platte Police Department for questioning and was advised of his Miranda Rights, Guidroz said.
According to Guidroz, Shergold then stated, “I need an attorney because my mom showed me the video that you’re about to show me, and I don’t remember doing that.”
The interview then stopped, and Shergold was booked by Ville Platte Police, then transported to the St. Landry Parish jail for processing.
No motive behind both random attacks could be obtained due to Shergold refusing to answer questions without his lawyer present, Guidroz said.