Eric Richard Arrested for Violating Conditions of Release

Eric Richard was taken into custody of the Washington County Jail today, after he allegedly violated conditions of his release.

Richard has been charged with first-degree assault, stemming from an incident with Adam McCloud last year, at Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque in downtown Stillwater.

Richard was taken into custody by jail staff Thursday morning—and the judge raised his bail to $30,000—after he failed to show up for two separate urine analysis appointments, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said.

“His UAs didn’t come up dirty, he’s just not doing it, so we have no way of knowing what is going on,” Orput said. “Random drug tests were a condition of his release, and this is the second time he failed to do it.”

Richard pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault charge last month. A pretrial hearing has been set for Friday, June 28 at 8:30 a.m. in Washington County District Court.

Richard was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the Washington County Attorney’s Office dismissed that charge after the medical examiner could not rule McCloud's death a homicide because he fell in the hospital while being treated for his head injuries.

After McCloud went through the intensive care unit at Regions Hospital, “he apparently rolled out of his hospital bed and landed on his head again," Washington County Attorney Pete Orput has said. 

The complaint alleges that Richard and McCloud argued over a spilled drink, and that Richard was seen repeatedly punching McCloud in the face and head, causing him to fall and strike his head on the ground.

According to the complaint, McCloud suffered several skull fractures and intracranial bleeding causing respiratory failure and, ultimately, his death on Oct. 4, 2012.