CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia State Police officials say allegations that a student was beaten while unconscious during a training session at the State Police Academy are false, and say they would welcome an independent investigation into the matter.

Gov. Joe Manchin discussed just such an independent investigation Tuesday, said Matt Turner, Manchin's spokesman.

"The governor would like to see that happen," Turner said. "How it might go about is not in place yet, but we will see."

When contacted by The Charleston Gazette, Princeton police officer Christopher Winkler and his family said two academy trainers beat him during baton training on April 5.

State Police Superintendent Col. Timothy S. Pack issued a statement Thursday saying Winkler didn't receive any direct hits to the head or neck. He said the training was immediately halted when it became apparent that Winkler was in distress.

"The allegations that have been portrayed in the media are without merit. In fact, they are simply untrue," Pack said in the statement, read by State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous at a press conference at State Police headquarters in South Charleston.

"Officer Winkler was not beaten while he lay on the floor in a state of distress," Pack said in the statement. "After an internal inquiry which included the interviews of other basic officers in attendance and several Academy Staff Members consisting of West Virginia State Troopers and officers from various other agencies, it was determined that Basic Officer Winkler was neither abused nor mistreated in any manner."

Pack did not attend the news conference and did not speak to reporters.

According to Pack's statement, witnesses said Winkler didn't receive any direct hits to the head or neck. Winkler walked to the ambulance after being treated by a staff member and former Navy corpsman, the statement says.

Winkler's mother, Pamela McPeak, said an instructor told her in the hospital after her son was injured that he saved Winkler's life by pulling two other instructors off Winkler when they continued to beat him while he was unconscious.

According to McPeak, her son was singled out by several of the training officers.

"For anyone to speculate what caused his adverse medical condition would be simply that, speculation," Pack's statement reads. "However, the existence of clear and convincing medical evidence that this condition was a direct result of training, rather than a possible pre-existing condition, has not been produced."

Medical documents provided to the Gazette by the Winkler family on Tuesday show a diagram of Winkler's injuries to the neck. The "Emergency Physician Record" from Thomas Memorial Hospital states that Winkler received a head injury during training at the police academy.

The "context" on the form is listed as "direct blow," the severity as "moderate" and the associated symptoms as "lost consciousness."

McPeak tried to attend Tuesday's news conference, but was not allowed into the secure area of State Police headquarters. State Police officials talked to her and gave her a copy of Pack's statement.

She discussed her son's situation with reporters after the news conference outside State Police headquarters.

Gov. Joe Manchin discussed just such an independent investigation Tuesday, said Matt Turner, Manchin's spokesman.

"The governor would like to see that happen," Turner said. "How it might go about is not in place yet, but we will see."

When contacted by The Charleston Gazette, Princeton police officer Christopher Winkler and his family said two academy trainers beat him during baton training on April 5.

State Police Superintendent Col. Timothy S. Pack issued a statement Thursday saying Winkler didn't receive any direct hits to the head or neck. He said the training was immediately halted when it became apparent that Winkler was in distress.

"The allegations that have been portrayed in the media are without merit. In fact, they are simply untrue," Pack said in the statement, read by State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous at a press conference at State Police headquarters in South Charleston.

"Officer Winkler was not beaten while he lay on the floor in a state of distress," Pack said in the statement. "After an internal inquiry which included the interviews of other basic officers in attendance and several Academy Staff Members consisting of West Virginia State Troopers and officers from various other agencies, it was determined that Basic Officer Winkler was neither abused nor mistreated in any manner."

Pack did not attend the news conference and did not speak to reporters.

According to Pack's statement, witnesses said Winkler didn't receive any direct hits to the head or neck. Winkler walked to the ambulance after being treated by a staff member and former Navy corpsman, the statement says.

Winkler's mother, Pamela McPeak, said an instructor told her in the hospital after her son was injured that he saved Winkler's life by pulling two other instructors off Winkler when they continued to beat him while he was unconscious.

According to McPeak, her son was singled out by several of the training officers.

"For anyone to speculate what caused his adverse medical condition would be simply that, speculation," Pack's statement reads. "However, the existence of clear and convincing medical evidence that this condition was a direct result of training, rather than a possible pre-existing condition, has not been produced."

Medical documents provided to the Gazette by the Winkler family on Tuesday show a diagram of Winkler's injuries to the neck. The "Emergency Physician Record" from Thomas Memorial Hospital states that Winkler received a head injury during training at the police academy.

The "context" on the form is listed as "direct blow," the severity as "moderate" and the associated symptoms as "lost consciousness."

McPeak tried to attend Tuesday's news conference, but was not allowed into the secure area of State Police headquarters. State Police officials talked to her and gave her a copy of Pack's statement.

She discussed her son's situation with reporters after the news conference outside State Police headquarters.

"Obviously they are trying to cover it up," McPeak said. "I'll advocate for all trainees and hope the training gets changed."

Turner, the governor's spokesman, said Manchin discussed an investigation with his chief of staff, Jim Spears, and Joe Thornton, acting secretary of the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, which oversees the State Police.

"The specifics are not established," Turner said. "But it's something the governor mentioned and something we are going to pursue."

At the news conference, Baylous showed the equipment used during the Multiple Assailant Training when, according to Pack's statement, "it became apparent that he was suffering an adverse medical condition."

The equipment consisted of boxing gloves for the instructors, along with a padded nightstick with a solid core for the trainee, along with a protective vest and boxing-type headgear. Baylous also said that instructors wore heavy protective equipment during the training.

Winkler was in the academy's 141st Basic Police Training Class, which is for law enforcement officers other than the State Police. New law enforcement officers in departments throughout West Virginia must attend basic classes to get certified as a police officer in the state. The training lasts 16 weeks and differs from the State Police Cadet classes, which last for 30 weeks.

State Police are trying to be transparent about what happened, Baylous said.

"Colonel Pack and the West Virginia State Police would not be opposed to an independent review," Baylous said. "We are providing facts as we collect them."

He said about 15 people have been interviewed in the State Police investigation, which has not been completed.

He said he didn't know if Winkler had been interviewed. McPeak said he has not.

Winkler still has a blood clot in his brain and has not been able to return to work for the Princeton police department, McPeak said.

She said her son wants to be a police officer more than anything, and the family has no plans to sue the academy or the State Police.

"I just want to see my son certified," she said.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.