– Press release from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office:

On Friday January 31, 2014 at 3:30pm, Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified that a physical altercation was in progress on North Barlow Lane in Bishop. Upon arrival, Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted to a male subject running through a field away from the scene.

William Taylor

The male subject, identified as William John Dean Taylor a 22-year-old Big Pine man, was apprehended by deputies and escorted to a patrol vehicle so witnesses could be interviewed.

According to witnesses at the scene, Taylor had been drinking all day and had become increasingly combative. Taylor had instigated a fight with his younger sister resulting in him grabbing her neck and squeezing. Taylor began “punching” his mother’s truck, and when confronted by his mother he attacked her. A friend of Taylor’s attempted to intervene in the altercation with Taylor’s mother; however, Taylor then attacked him and ultimately bit the tip of his friend’s middle finger off. Taylor was booked into the Inyo County Jail and is being held on the following charges: mayhem, felony battery, vandalism, and disorderly conduct: alcohol.

On Sunday February 2, 2014 at 10:00am, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received notification of a physical assault in progress in the Crater Road area of Big Pine. According to the reporting party, the suspect – Robert William Westervelt, a 38-year-old man from Big Pine – was beating his girlfriend with a metal pipe.

Robert Westervelt

The reporting party also indicated that the girlfriend had been choked, and that Westervelt had doused her with charcoal lighter fluid. Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputies as well as officers from California Highway Patrol arrived at the residence, but Westervelt fled the scene prior to their arrival. At approximately 6:00pm Sheriff’s Dispatch received a confidential tip that Westervelt was located at a residence on Watson Street in Big Pine. Upon arrival, Westervelt attempted to flee; however, he was successfully detained and booked into the Inyo County Jail. Westervelt is being held on the following charges: attempted murder, corporal injury to a cohabitant, and felony assault.