A resident of David’s House in Dobson is in jail, charged with the murder of another resident.

Daniel Julian East, 55, of David's House at 711 W. Atkins St. in Dobson, is being held in the Surry County Detention Center under a $2 million bond on a charge of second-degree murder.

The charge, which Dobson Police Chief Shawn Myers said may be upgraded to first-degree murder, stems from a May 21 altercation between East and Jeremiah Daniel Love, 27. Four days later Love died at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, but the police department is just now releasing information regarding the case.

According to Myers, his department was called to the facility on an involuntary commitment order for Love who, according to the commitment order, had a previously diagnosed mental disorder and had repeatedly left the house that day. He also was physically harming himself by hitting his head and knuckles on a block wall.

“Officer Kenny Benfield picked Love up at the residential facility and took him to Northern Hospital of Surry County,” Myers said in a written statement. While at the hospital, Love complained of a headache, became sick and experienced seizures. He was airlifted to the Wake Forest hospital, where he underwent surgery for severe bleeding on the brain. He died without regaining consciousness.

The chief said Love’s family contacted his department a day after the May 21 incident, because they did not believe the account David’s House officials were giving them.

“They had been told that Love was in a confrontation with another resident and that he (Love) fled, fell over some bicycles and struck an air conditioning unit before hitting the back of his head on the concrete porch,” Myers said. The injury was to the right side of Love’s skull.

Myers said he received a similar story. The chief said when he interviewed the owners of David’s House, they said Love had been hurt in a fall while fleeing from East.

“East, however, said he went after Love because Love had cursed and kicked this dog,” Myers said. “He said he was angry and hit Jeremiah several times in the head, shoulder and arm with his cane.

“Surveillance video from the facility supports East’s version of events, in that he swung once at Love and missed, then struck him in the side of the head in a baseball type swing. Love fell and was struck again before staff arrived to pull them apart. Bicycles visible in the footage were still upright when Love fell,” Myers said.

After the alleged assault, a facility employee called co-owner Karen Huddleston and had her apply for commitment papers on Love, the chief said. “She noticed the knot on Love’s head and applied ice to it before police arrived. When Officer Benfield arrived he (Love) was acting fine,” Myers said. “We were called at 1:20 p.m., arrived at David’s House at 1:28 and picked him up at 1:34 p.m. and had him at Northern Hospital at 1:49 p.m.”

East was arrested on the day Love died on an unrelated charge after he allegedly threatened to beat a David’s House employee with his cane, Myers said. He was charged with communicating threats.

An autopsy on May 26 ruled Love’s death a homicide and warrants were issued charging East with second-degree murder on May 29.

East has a criminal history, having served time for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault on a female, driving while impaired and driving without a license, Myers said.