Mount Pleasant Man Injured in Assault Dies

SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County coroner Chris Nisbet reported a Mount Pleasant man involved in a Jan. 10 assault at Loco Joe's in Summerville died eight days later from his multiple injuries. 

James Beatty, 51, died at 12:42 a.m. Wednesday at MUSC.

Cause of death has been ruled brainstem herniation, traumatic brain injury, intraparenchymal bleeding and subarachnoid hemorrhages.

According to the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office incident report, David Michael Sigler, 40, of Charleston was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. 

According to witness accounts in the report, Beatty was inside the bar when Sigler arrived. Sigler allegedly went up to Beatty and struck him in the head. Beatty then fell to the concrete floor.

When deputies arrived on scene, Beatty was on the floor of the bar unconscious. Sigler had allegedly fled the scene. Deputies found Sigler at a residence on Wyndham Drive. 

Sigler denied being in an altercation at Loco Joe's, but deputies said he matched the suspect's description. Sigler was brought to Loco Joe's and four witnesses identified him as the suspect, according to the report.

Sigler is currently in jail under a $75,000 bond for the initial assault. The sheriff's office is currently evaluating upgrading the charges, according to Public Information Officer Maj. John Garrison.

Updated 3:05 p.m. Jan. 18 to add information in the incident report.