Ottawa man, 24, arrested on battery, theft charges

Lawrence police arrested a 24-year-old Ottawa man Wednesday morning and alleged he injured another man and stole a vehicle from Kwik Shop, 1846 Mass.

Police were called at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where a 26-year-old Lawrence man was being treated in the emergency room. Officers discovered he was hurt during an incident at a social gathering a residence in the 1100 block of Mississippi Street.

Police alerted Ottawa authorities because they discovered the assailant, Joshua M. Jeffcoat, might be staying there. At 2:35 a.m., the vehicle was reported stolen in Lawrence, and it and Jeffcoat were found in Ottawa. Douglas County prosecutors filed one count of aggravated battery and one count of felony theft against Jeffcoat Wednesday afternoon.

“Further investigation revealed that the suspect was involved in the aggravated battery in Lawrence,” said Kim Murphree, a police spokeswoman. “Lawrence police are still investigating this incident to determine what kind of weapon was used to batter the victim and other details of the case.”

Jeffcoat was also booked into jail on a 2011 domestic battery warrant and a Lawrence Municipal Court traffic warrant.

Jail records originally listed Jeffcoat’s address in Lawrence, but later it was changed to Ottawa.