HINTON, (Hinton News) – Police responded to an incident involving an alleged assault in the area of 3rd Ave. in Hinton on Saturday, March 25. The responding officer spoke with the victim. Allegedly, she stated she had been struck by an individual she identified as Billy Gill. Also, according to the criminal complaint, the victim told the officer that Gill had taken her purse.
According to the criminal complaints, an officer obtained a video of the incident, which allegedly depicts Billy Joe Gill, 35, of Hinton, and Kayla Tavano, 31, of Hinton, engaging in a verbal altercation with the victim. A statement from the Summers County Sheriff’s Office notes that the video came from a “vigilant member of the community” who recorded the incident. The criminal complaints continue saying that the video shows the victim beginning to walk away when Gill “punched” them, causing them to hit the ground. Following the victim falling, the video reportedly shows Gill grabbing the victim’s handbag, followed by Gill and Tavano running to a vehicle.
The criminal complaints note that the victim told an officer that the stolen bag contained $1000 in US currency.
Additionally, the Summers County Sheriff’s Office’s statement says officers obtained warrants for Gill and Tavano. Later the same day, the statement indicates that officers were able to intercept the two individuals who were traveling in the vehicle seen in the video and arrest them.
At the time of writing, Gill and Tavano remain in Southern Regional Jail. Gill has a $50,500 bail amount set. He is facing charges of Grand Larceny, Battery, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny and Robbery First Degree. Tavano’s bail amount is $50,000, and she faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and Grand Larceny.
