Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Husband Arrested In Choking Incident
A Summertown man was taken into police custody during the weekend after allegedly choking his wife during a domestic altercation.
Deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to intervene in the altercation at 1071 North Brace Road around 6:30 Saturday evening.
The victim reported that she and her husband had become involved in a verbal altercation over domestic issues, and that it had escalated to a physical assault.
The victim reported that her husband, Kenneth Wayne Hunter, 31, had slapped her, busting her lip, then placed her in a choked hold when she attempted to leave the home. She told deputies that he made threats to, “Kill her and put her in the ground.”
The victim told deputies that she went to a neighbor’s house where she first called a relative, then placed a 911 call for assistance.
When they confronted Hunter he allegedly denied that a physical altercation had taken place. He told deputies he had no idea how his wife’s lip had become injured. He said that they had engaged in a verbal altercation only.
Deputies report that when they informed Hunter that he would be arrested he asked to be handcuffed on the front porch rather than in front of his children. Deputies agreed, but when they attempted to handcuff him he became noncompliant, resisting arrest and becoming combative.
Deputies report that Hunter was taken to the ground during the struggle and that he flailed about, striking officers.
Hunter was eventually restrained but continued to resist arrest when being placed into a patrol car. One deputy reports that he made threats against his safety.
He reports that during transport Hunter threatened to assault him “on the street…and that he would kill me if and when I did not have my badge on.” Reports show that Hunter was physically combative throughout transport, hitting and kicking the cage in the car.
Hunter was booked at the Lawrence County Detention Center on charges that include aggravated domestic assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest.
Emergency Medical Service members were dispatched to evaluate the victim due to her being choked. Deputies report that Hunter was evaluated by the facility nurse after complaining of pain to his neck and arm.
