Man pleads not guilty to pistol-whipping man on Bernard Drive

A 28-year-old man was pistol-whipped Friday night in his Bernard Drive home, according to Recorder's Court testimony.

Roderick Lebeson Phillips, the alleged attacker, pleaded not guilty today to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and theft by receiving stolen property. Judge Michael Joyner ordered him held in Muscogee County Jail under bonds totaling $45,000.

The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Detective Cpl. Darrell Middlebrooks said authorities were called to the intersection of Mellon Street and Bernard Drive 11:17 p.m. Friday in reference to a shooting.

Officials said they found 32-year-old Demetrius Williams of Phenix City on the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to the side and chest. He died 12:05 a.m. Saturday, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan stated.

Responding officers said they also saw 22-year-old Phillips running from a residence in the 400 block of Bernard Drive with a gunshot wound in his leg.

"When he came out of the residence, he tried to run through three officers," Middlebrooks said. "They tackled him and brought him to the ground."

Authorities said they apprehended Phillips and transported him to Columbus Midtown Medical Center, where he was treated for the gunshot wound. He was later released back into police custody.

Middlebrooks said the resident of the Bernard Drive home told police that Phillips knocked on his front door that night around 11:10 p.m. The victim said he let him his home, and the man started pistol-whipping him on his head and face, according to police.

"(The victim) sustained numerous injuries across his head," Middlebrooks testified. "He was knocked onto the floor.

"He stated that this individual went to the rear of his apartment and attempted to get out of the back door. Because it had a deadbolt lock on it, he was unable to get out that way."

Authorities said they found the handgun Phillips allegedly used in the attack in the residence on top of the refrigerator. It was reported stolen in 2008, Middlebrooks told the court.

The detective said police still aren't sure exactly how Phillips was shot in the leg, but he admitted to being at the Bernard Drive address where Williams was shot and killed.

According to police, he was "extremely intoxicated and appeared to be on something else." He allegedly gave various accounts of how he was shot, which included accusing the man he allegedly pistol-whipped.

"First he said (the victim) did it," Middlebrooks testified. "Then he said he was shot out there at the scene. Then he said police shot him."

Police said Phillips is among a group of people under investigation for the fatal shooting on Bernard Drive. The only person who has been charged in the case is Williams' half-brother Roger Lee Thomas, 28.

— Sarah is a crime and safety reporter at The Ledger-Enquirer. You can contact her on Twitter at @SarahR_92.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Man pleads not guilty to pistol-whipping man on Bernard Drive ."