WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Victim tells his side of bar fight involving Winnsboro DPS chief

Victim tells his side of bar fight involving Winnsboro DPS chief

By Jordan Sandler - bio | email | and Logan Smith - email

WINNSBORO, SC (WIS) - A Midlands police chief stood in handcuffs and leg shackles. Winnsboro Police Chief Wayne Yates turned himself in Thursday afternoon on charges of assault and battery from a weekend bar fight.

Some witnesses are coming to Yates' defense, and now the victim tells his side of the story.

Winnsboro Department of Public Safety Chief Wayne Yates was released on bond Thursday afternoon, facing charges of assault and battery stemming from an early-morning bar fight last weekend.

Yates turned himself in several days after the charges were filed against him, and 24 hours after his two co-defendants. Fairfield County Chief Deputy Keith Lewis said he told Yates about the charges on Monday, but Yates was vacationing in Tennessee with his family.

Lewis said Yates turned himself in at around 4:30pm, and was released shortly thereafter on about $2,000 bond. Shuffling with metal gripping his jeans, Yates stood in front of a judge.

"Do you understand what you've been charged with?" the judge asked. "Yes, I do," Yates replied.

Watching from across the courtroom was the victim, Troy Lynch. He accuses Yates of shoving him to the ground outside a bar called Bubba's Place early Saturday.

"I've got a few injuries, the only one that's obvious, I've got a fractured nose," Lynch said. He claims after Yates pushed him down, two other men began hitting him. Another victim said Yates' friends also punched and kicked him in the head while he was on the ground, and that Yates threatened to "beat his [expletive]."

Showing his bruised face for the first time since the fight, Lynch says he has no fear accusing his town's top law enforcer of a criminal act.

"I don't look at him being the police chief, I just look at, at this being an incident that needs to be addressed," said Lynch.

Yates, 24-year-old Ed Smith and 21-year-old Brian Schneider are all charged with assault and battery in connection with the fight. Smith and Schneider turned themselves in Wednesday afternoon, and were released on $1,100 bond each.

However, two witnesses and even Smith himself said Yates didn't touch anyone during the fight.

"Wayne Yates did nothing, he never put his hands on anybody," said bar manager Kayla Isenhower.

Though three people at Bubba's say Yates is falsely accused, Lynch had a different take.

"It just seems like a lack of integrity right now in this town, and a lot of people hiding behind the truth," responded Lynch.

So what is the truth?

We asked Lynch point-blank whether Chief Yates touched him. He replied, "I can't share that information."

WIS News 10: As a suspect, it's accurate that he is a suspect in this?
Troy Lynch: Definitely so.
WIS: And the two other guys, suspects as well, rightfully so?
Lynch: Yes, sir.
WIS: Those marks you're showing us, is Yates responsible for what we see on your face?
Lynch: They know who they are.

After being released from jail Thursday, Chief Yates wouldn't comment on the fight or anything else.

When asked if Yates would still be the police chief, Yates replied, "No comment." Winnsboro Town Manager Don Wood says after Yates is formally charged, the two will meet to discuss Yates' employment with the police department.

The judge said Yates must appear in court on December 2, but Yates' lawyer says they'll request a jury trial. That will likely be held in January.

"The truth will come out in the end," Lynch declares.

Previous Story:

• Deputy: Winnsboro DPS chief will turn self in Thursday

• Details emerge about bar fight involving Winnsboro DPS chief

Copyright 2009 WIS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.