MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Two off-duty Berkeley County Sheriff’s deputies who were involved in an altercation at a Toughman Contest are on administrative leave.
Deputy Bryant Andrew Snapp, 36, of Hedgesville, was charged with felony Malicious Wounding.
Deputy David Allen Knotts, 31 of Berkeley Springs was charged with Disorderly Conduct, a misdemeanor.
They were arraigned Friday in Berkeley County Magistrate Court and released on bond.
The incident which was broken locally by Journal Editor Toni Milbourne, stems from an altercation that broke out Friday night, March 14th during a Toughman event at the Berkeley 2000 Rec Center. Martinsburg Police Sgt. RS Fritz says he was working at the event when he saw a group of individuals he recognized who were “yelling about the fight” after a winner was announced. The group included Deputies Knotts and Snapp who were off duty as well as Snapp’s wife Kayln.
Sgt. Fritz reported seeing a beer can being thrown by Knotts. He removed the group involved “in an attempt to regain control of the arena.”
A witness told Fritz Knotts started the fight by throwing the beer.
Another man told MPD Patrolman Thais he had been hit in the head and wanted to pursue charges. The man left the arena, but Sgt. Fritz said he was able to follow up with him on Sunday. The victim told him he had gone to the emergency room on Saturday because his head and neck hurt and he had been vomiting. He said he had been diagnosed with a mild/traumatic brain injury and concussion. He also complained that his hip was hurting.
The victim said following the fight in the ring, the group of people in front of him were cheering the outcome, but the group of people behind him, “did not like that.”
He told the officer that someone from the group behind him threw a beer can, soaking everyone in the area, including him as well as his wife. A man, later identified as Bryant Snapp started cursing at a man in front of them. The victim said after that man stood up Snapp then allegedly “was on top of the victim breaking his chair and sending him to the ground.”
He said once he got Snapp off of him and attempted to find his glasses, Kaylyn Snapp jumped on his back and put him in a chokehold. The man’s wife got Mrs. Snapp off of him.
When the victim finally found his glasses and went to stand up, he says someone hit him in the back of the head, which he says a witness in the stand reported to be Mr. Snapp.
The victim’s wife told Sgt. Fritz that during the incident, Mr. Snapp tried to get loose from his friends saying he was going to kill the victim.
Sgt. Fritz says a review of the footage from the recreation center shows Snapp going up “to confront the male” but doesn’t show much after that.
Sgt. Fritz says the victim is still suffering headaches and reports his leg is numb and that he has been diagnosed with nerve damage.
Kaylyn Snapp, 34, was charged with misdemeanor battery.
On Friday March 28th all three defendants appeared in front of Berkeley Magistrate Darrell Shull.
Deputy Snapp could face 2 to 10 years in prison on the felony malicious wounding charge if convicted. He is out on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.
Deputy Knotts could face up to 24 hours in jail and a fine of up to $100. He is out on a $300 recognizance bond.
Mrs. Snapp could face a year in jail or a fine of up to $500 on the misdemeanor battery charge. She pleaded not guilty. Her bail was set at $750 recognizance.
The Panhandle News Network reached out to Berkeley County Prosecutor Joe Kinser who says he cannot comment other than to say a special prosecutor has been appointed.
Berkeley County Sheriff Rob Blair says the two deputies are on administrative leave pending an investigation.
He says his department is conducting their own internal investigation “as per our policy and state civil service code.”
The statement from the Berkeley County Sheriff, released Wednesday afternoon:
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding an incident which occurred
on Friday, March 14, 2025, that the Martinsburg Police Department is currently investigating.
The incident involved off duty member(s) of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Furthermore,
two (02) deputies have been arrested and charged by the Martinsburg Police Department. Both
deputies are currently on administrative leave pending a complete investigation of this incident.
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to our policy and procedures and state civil
service rules. Questions and information related to the criminal charges can be directed to the
Martinsburg
