Booking photo of Terry Ward, 64, of Richmond, Virginia, in an orange jumpsuit

A Richmond Man Allegedly Taped His Wife to a Chair in the Basement So He Could Watch Football in Peace, and Now He Is Facing a Felony

Terry Ward, 64, wanted to watch football upstairs in peace, according to police. The criminal complaint says he taped his wife to a chair in the basement for up to 45 minutes to get it.

Officers answered a domestic call at the home in the 2200 block of Maplewood Avenue, near Byrd Park, around 11:30 p.m. on October 11. His wife, who has not been named, told police Ward taped her to the chair and left her down there while the game was on upstairs. Officers noted marks and tape residue on both of her arms.

“Ward stated that he did indeed tie his wife to a chair and place her down in the basement.”

An officer, writing in the criminal complaint
Boat Lake in Byrd Park, Richmond, Virginia
Boat Lake in Byrd Park, the Richmond neighborhood near the Maplewood Avenue home. Photo: Smash the Iron Cage via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ward was arrested that night and charged with felony abduction and misdemeanor assault on a family member. The felony abduction charge alone can carry at least a year in prison, and up to 10 years if prosecutors push it to the full extent.

The Richmond, Virginia skyline over the James River
Richmond, Virginia. Photo: Boston Public Library via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

His arraignment and bond hearing were continued earlier this week, and court documents put his next date on November 10 in Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The charges are allegations, and Ward has not been convicted of anything.

Everybody wants to watch the game in peace. Most people just close a door.

See also: Five Charlotte Officers Resigned After Racist Texts Allegedly Talked About a Contest to Pull Over the Most Black Drivers and LeBron James Went Off on a Courtside Knicks Fan Chirping About His Helicopter Rides, and Spike Lee Had to Step In.

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