SALINE CO.— A drunken Poplar Street domestic left authorities with a slew of unanswered questions as to how one man ended up with head injuries so bad he had to be flown by helicopter to an area hospital.
According to information filed in the case, on December 29, 2015, at approximately 9:57 p.m., Harrisburg Police Sgt. David Morris responded to a call from dispatch to 1913 West Poplar St., to assist an ambulance crew.
Upon arrival Morris observed Jonathon B. McKinney, 29, in the ambulance with another man, identified as his brother, 35-year-old William B. McKinney, in the front yard with a woman, identified as Elizabeth A. Hirsch, Jonathon McKinney’s girlfriend.
Hirsch was reported to be crying and attempting to check on Jonathon in the ambulance.
Worried about William
Ambulance personnel said they requested police backup because they were worried that William McKinney would cause a scene due to his brother being in the ambulance.
Authorities say that William and Elizabeth Hirsch both smelled strongly of alcohol.
Paramedic Mike Burford came out of the ambulance and asked William to tell him what had happened to his brother because he was suffering from trauma to his head as if he had been punched or kicked.
William responded by saying, “I didn’t punch or kick anyone, Jonathon was drunk.”
And that’s when Hirsch started yelling at William for him to tell the truth.
Morris was advised by the ambulance crew that Jonathon McKinney was in serious enough condition that he would be flown out of the area by helicopter for treatment of his head wounds.
Argument over Christmas Day
When questioned by Sgt. Morris, Hirsch said that she and William had gotten into an argument and that Jonathon had tried to break it up.
She explained that the argument was over her reporting Jonathon for domestic battery on Christmas Day.
Hirsch said William didn’t want her staying at the house with him and his brother.
She said William began shoving her around the bedroom area, into the living room and finally onto a couch, where he held her facedown by her throat and neck.
Hirsch said that’s when she noticed Jonathon lying on the floor in vomit.
She said William broke off his attack of her and went to assist his brother.
Nobody gave any indication as to how Jonathon McKinney ended up on the floor in vomit with severe head trauma.
Criminal history
Criminal history of the group includes Jonathon McKinney being arrested March 25, 2015, and charged with Aggravated Battery Strangulation and two counts of Domestic Battery.
McKinney was arrested again September 3, 2015 and charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery Strangulation.
There is also a pending case against Jonathon McKinney in which he is charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery for allegedly on Dec. 25, 2015 for strangling Hirsch.
This is apparently the incident being argued about.
He is also charged in the case with one count of Aggravated Battery for hitting her so hard as to cause a facial fracture.
Elizabeth Ann Hirsch, 40, was convicted February 17, 2012 of felony Retail Theft and sentenced to probation for 24 months and ordered to pay $1,630 in fines and fees.
Morris was assisted at the scene by HPD officer Steve Sloan and county deputy Mike Gooch.
William McKinney was taken into custody and transported to the Saline County Detention Center where he was booked on formal charged of felony Unlawful Restraint and Battery.
There has been no report as to the condition of Jonathon McKinney and no further charges filed in the case.
Cash bond in the case was set at $1,000.