Man arrested in connection to Woodward beating

WOODWARD, Okla. (KFOR) — Charges have been filed against a man accused of leaving another man badly beaten in a local Woodward street.

News 4 first reported on the incident in September , after 34-year-old Matt Babcock was found laying in the roadway near 8th and Oklahoma Avenue in Woodward.

According to a social media post from Babcock’s family, his eye sockets were broken, there was bleeding in his brain that was later stabilized, and his lips were badly swollen.

Court documents say that surveillance video shows the suspect, later identified by a witness as 26-year-old Ryan Harber, assaulting Babcock after chasing him down the street.

Police obtained a warrant to search Harber’s home for the clothing worn by the suspect in the surveillance videos. During the search, Harper’s mother, Allison Feerer, reportedly told officers she was familiar with the shirt worn by the suspect and that Harper had left for Oklahoma City.

Documents also allege that Freerer showed officers a video that Harber had sent to her. In the video, Babcock is shown attempting to get away from the person shooting the video. Babcock didn’t appear to have any of the injuries he was found with in the video.

Harber was arrested on one count of aggravated assault and battery on Wednesday morning. If convicted, Harber could face an enhanced sentence of up to 10 years in state prison since he has a previous felony conviction of second degree burglary in April 2023.

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