Argument over drugs, woman sparked savage beating, police say

In what Chief Deputy Derek Eubanks called a fight over a woman and drugs, Albert Sawyers and Terry Hubbard have been arrested on charges that they severely beat Billy Hopkins with at least one baseball bat outside his Corbin home Sunday night, while the search continues for a third suspect, Howard Harris, Jr.

Eubanks said according to witness statements, the situation began when Harris went over to the house to confront Hopkins.

"The people at the house asked Howard to leave and when he wouldn’t leave, they put him out," Eubanks said.

However, witnesses told Eubanks that Harris kicked the door in, at which time, Hopkins went out on the porch.

The witness went on to tell deputies that when she came out, the three men were beating Hopkins and at least one of them was armed with an aluminum bat.

Eubanks said Hopkins has been released from the hospital but suffered multiple broken bones, is bruised from head to toe and needed 11 or 12 stitches.

The witness called 911. Though the suspects fled the scene before deputies arrived, Eubanks said the witness was able to identify them and told deputies they lived in Lily.

With the help of the Kentucky State Police, Eubanks and other Knox County Deputies went to Hubbard’s house and took him into custody.

"We recovered one of the baseball bats with the assistance of the London-Laurel County Rescue Squad," Eubanks said. "It was in a creek below one of the men’s houses."

Hubbard was lodged in the  Knox County Detention Center. Eubanks said an arrest warrant was issued for Sawyers and Harris. Sawyers turned himself in to deputies Monday, while deputies continue the search for Harris.

Each of the suspects faces one count of first-degree assault. In addition, Eubanks said Harris may face burglary charges for kicking in the front door of the home.