Mike Walls, a member of the Mathews County Board of Supervisors, is facing several misdemeanor charges following an alleged confrontation on Saturday, May 6, during the annual May Faire with Billy Ray Cook, chairman of the Mathews Planning Commission.
Cook is running for a seat on the board of supervisors in the Nov. 7 election.
Walls has been charged with 1) assault and 2) disorderly conduct in a street or public place, both Class 1 misdemeanors, as well as 3) abusive language to another, a Class 3 misdemeanor. A hearing on the matter has been set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 22, in Mathews General District Court.
According to the written statement Cook submitted on Monday, May 8, the alleged incident occurred on the court green during the festival. In the statement, Cook said that Walls asked him to “come over and talk with him,” which Cook did. Then, according to the complaint, Walls allegedly threatened Cook, saying, “If you go against Tricia Stalls (sic, Tricia Stall, another candidate for the board of supervisors), I will blow you up and Paul Hudgins with you.” Paul Hudgins is also a member of the board of supervisors, as well as its former chairman.
“Mr. Walls then took a step closer to me, got within five inches of my face and said, ‘(expletive), don’t get in my way,” alleged Cook in the complaint, continuing with, “I then myself cursed and told him to get out of my face. He then said, ‘If you ever come at me, I will put you down.’”
Also in the statement, Cook said that he had been told by several people that Walls carries a firearm.
“I am fearful of him, feel intimidated by him and feel that he will follow through with his threats,” said Cook. “There are numerous witnesses to his comments which were directed at me.”
Cook named as witnesses Sharon Frye, Harry Meeks and Bonnie Meeks. He asked that a charge of disorderly conduct be made against Walls and that an emergency protective order be issued.
Mathews Magistrate Katie Slavnik issued the protective order against Walls on Monday, May 8, ordering Walls not to be in Cook’s physical presence through the expiration date of May 22 at midnight.
Neither Walls nor Cook provided any comment on the charges.