Local Newspaper Editor Attacked While Covering Fire Story

Sergeant Thomas Miller of the Warren Police Department is on the scene as firefighters work to bring the house
fire under control.

The Warren Fire Department received a call alerting them to a house fire on the corner of Wheeler and Wise Streets Friday afternoon.  While the firemen were working to put out the fire, the local newspaper editor, Tim Kessler arrived to cover the fire for The Eagle Democrat.  According to Mr.

The Eagle Democrat editor, Tim Kesler was treated at
the Bradley County Medical Center after being attacked.

Kessler, while there he was approached by Troy Drake, son of the owner of the home.  They spoke for a few moments, and then Mr. Drake's mother, Brenda Drake, walked up and suggested that Mr. Kessler might need to leave due to the fact that her son was becoming upset.  According to the editor, just seconds later Mr. Drake attacked him with an iron tool which he had taken from a fire truck.  Mr. Kessler said he was knocked to the ground and received two blows to the head resulting in a serious gash in the top of his head.  He told salineriverchronicle.com that Mr. Drake continued to try to attack him. Fireman Eddie West came to Mr. Kessler's rescue and halted the attack.

Mr. Kessler was taken to the emergency room of Bradley County Medical Center by ambulance and received several staples to close his wound.

Mr. Drake was arrested by the Warren Police Department and remains in jail and is charged with battery 1st.

salineriverchronicle.com had been at the fire moments earlier but did not witness the altercation.

Twenty-one Warren firemen and several rural firefighters worked to put out the fire using a total of three trucks.  The house appears to be a total loss.  At this time, the cause of the fire and the battery charge are under investigation by the Arkansas State Police.

Smoke billows out of the house as firemen work to put out the fire.