CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A West Virginia National Guardsman who has accused a Kentucky state trooper of beating him said the altercation started when he sought the trooper's help in retrieving his things from his girlfriend's house.

Randall McCoy was visiting Benita Damron at her home in Pikeville, Ky., on July 3 when they got into an argument about Damron's sister's children, who were visiting.

McCoy said he left the house when he decided to return to get his things and head for his home near the Williamson National Guard Armory, where he worked full-time.

He found Kentucky State Police Trooper Jared Alfrey and asked him to accompany him back to the house. Contacted Monday, Alfrey declined to comment and referred questions to State Police at the Pikeville, Ky., detachment.

"I really didn't feel like arguing any more and wanted to prevent another argument," McCoy said. "That was the worst mistake I ever made."

When they got to Damron's house, Alfrey arrested both of them, putting them in the back of his police car, she said. He left the three kids, between the ages of 10 and 16, alone at the house, she said.

McCoy and Damron said they were not sure why they were being arrested but that things spiraled out of control after that, ending with McCoy being beaten and both of them charged with assault.

Damron was charged with fourth-degree assault and released on her own recognizance. McCoy was charged with third- and fourth-degree assault and with resisting arrest.

McCoy was finally admitted to a local hospital from jail over a day later, he said.

Alfrey is currently suspended pending an internal investigation after McCoy e-mailed Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office.

The two said Alfrey initially took them to nearby Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital, made a phone call and left with them.

McCoy began to plead with Alfrey to let Damron go, according to the e-mail sent to Gov. Fletcher's office. He was concerned about the three children being left alone and with Damron's back. She recently had surgery for a brown recluse spider bite, McCoy said.

McCoy said Alfrey told him to shut his mouth. He then took them to a nearby abandoned mine site, McCoy and Damron say.

Alfrey got McCoy out of the car, took off his handcuffs and told him to place his hands on his head, the couple said. Alfrey struck McCoy in the face and head several times, put the cuffs on him and drove them to a local restaurant, the two say.

Alfrey made another phone call and took them back to the abandoned mine site.

"I asked him, 'What are you doing? Isn't it your job to serve and protect?' " McCoy said. "There was something in this man's mind not working right. He was not a rational person. He was a raging lunatic."

McCoy was pulled from the car again and his handcuffs were removed, the two said.

Alfrey hit McCoy in the face once and he didn't react, Damron said. Then he struck McCoy a second time and McCoy wrapped his arms around Alfrey from behind.

Randall McCoy was visiting Benita Damron at her home in Pikeville, Ky., on July 3 when they got into an argument about Damron's sister's children, who were visiting.

McCoy said he left the house when he decided to return to get his things and head for his home near the Williamson National Guard Armory, where he worked full-time.

He found Kentucky State Police Trooper Jared Alfrey and asked him to accompany him back to the house. Contacted Monday, Alfrey declined to comment and referred questions to State Police at the Pikeville, Ky., detachment.

"I really didn't feel like arguing any more and wanted to prevent another argument," McCoy said. "That was the worst mistake I ever made."

When they got to Damron's house, Alfrey arrested both of them, putting them in the back of his police car, she said. He left the three kids, between the ages of 10 and 16, alone at the house, she said.

McCoy and Damron said they were not sure why they were being arrested but that things spiraled out of control after that, ending with McCoy being beaten and both of them charged with assault.

Damron was charged with fourth-degree assault and released on her own recognizance. McCoy was charged with third- and fourth-degree assault and with resisting arrest.

McCoy was finally admitted to a local hospital from jail over a day later, he said.

Alfrey is currently suspended pending an internal investigation after McCoy e-mailed Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office.

The two said Alfrey initially took them to nearby Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital, made a phone call and left with them.

McCoy began to plead with Alfrey to let Damron go, according to the e-mail sent to Gov. Fletcher's office. He was concerned about the three children being left alone and with Damron's back. She recently had surgery for a brown recluse spider bite, McCoy said.

McCoy said Alfrey told him to shut his mouth. He then took them to a nearby abandoned mine site, McCoy and Damron say.

Alfrey got McCoy out of the car, took off his handcuffs and told him to place his hands on his head, the couple said. Alfrey struck McCoy in the face and head several times, put the cuffs on him and drove them to a local restaurant, the two say.

Alfrey made another phone call and took them back to the abandoned mine site.

"I asked him, 'What are you doing? Isn't it your job to serve and protect?' " McCoy said. "There was something in this man's mind not working right. He was not a rational person. He was a raging lunatic."

McCoy was pulled from the car again and his handcuffs were removed, the two said.

Alfrey hit McCoy in the face once and he didn't react, Damron said. Then he struck McCoy a second time and McCoy wrapped his arms around Alfrey from behind.

"Randall was telling him to calm down. He didn't want him to strike him any more," Damron said.

They said Alfrey started biting at McCoy, but calmed down and McCoy released him.

"Soon as I released him he turned around and put his pistol to the back of my head behind my left ear. Then he ordered me to the ground," McCoy said.

Alfrey then started kicking and beating McCoy, both said.

Damron says she could only watch helplessly as her boyfriend was beaten for a second time by Alfrey.

"He left the back driver's side door open and I could see him and Randall. It's really flat up there," Damron said, her voice breaking with emotion. "He was kicking and beating [McCoy]. I just asked him to please quit hurting him."

Alfrey used a baton and beat him severely for several minutes, McCoy said.

After the beating, Alfrey put McCoy back into the car and took him back to Williamson Appalachian Regional Hospital and Damron to jail, they said.

McCoy said that he had knots all over his head, boot print-shaped bruises on his back and more bruises all over his body.

"I was just scared," Damron said. "I have never been so scared in my life. I've never been in trouble. I've never known of anything like this going on."

Alfrey was suspended after Kentucky State Police received a complaint and started an internal investigation into the matter, said Major Lisa Rudzinski, spokeswoman for the Kentucky State Police.

Jodi Whitaker, Gov. Fletcher's press secretary, confirmed that on Friday the e-mail was received and sent to the state's Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which oversees the State Police.

McCoy said he would have sent the e-mail sooner, but that he waited until he got out of the hospital.

"When I sat down to write that, I had to get up and walk away about 10 times," he said. "My life has been destroyed. All hope has gone out the window."

McCoy said he was told by police they found his watch near the abandoned mine where the beating took place.

"I am scared to leave my home," McCoy said. "My life was destroyed over nothing. My relationship was destroyed over nothing."

To contact staff writer Gary Harki, use e-mail or call 348-5163.