SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Domestic disputes are private arguments that usually start between family members but for whatever reason escalate to need the help of law enforcement.
The December indictments included four such situations that rose to the level of charges of aggravated assaults.
Thomas Earl Buchanan
was indicted Dec. 11 by a Jones County Grand Jury and charged with aggravated assault family violence, battery family violence, interference with government property and obstruction of officer, misdemeanor.
A report of Buchanan’s Sept. 28 arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jared Marcum states he was dispatched to Pitts Chapel Road and made contact with the complainant. He said Buchanan was inside the residence and was told to sit down on the recliner.
The alleged offender told the officer the complainant started yelling at him when he woke up. Buchanan admitted to pushing the complainant out of the way, but that was all.
The complainant told Marcum that Buchanan grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the face multiple times.
Buchanan said Deputy Ayla Morris found bruising around the complainant’s neck, and the offender was arrested.
The deputy said, while escorting the suspect to the car, he dove headfirst into the ground, and when inside the car, banged his head against the cage. EMS was called and attended to Buchanan at the jail.
Wesley Dean Davis was indicted on charges of aggravated assault family violence, aggravated assault, criminal trespass and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Davis was arrested Nov. 12 by JSCO Deputy David Brown. In a report of his arrest, Brown said he was dispatched to an address on Sage Street in reference to domestic problems. Dispatch advised the deputy the dispute involved an attempted stabbing with a screwdriver.
Brown said he arrived on scene and gave Davis verbal commands to come outside. The deputy said with his Taser drawn, he ordered the suspect to come off the porch and get face down on the ground. Davis complied without incident.
Brown said Davis was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of his patrol car while he spoke to others on the scene.
During his interviews, he was told the argument started over a piece of candy and escalated. Witnesses said the offender pushed one victim to the floor and attempted to stab her with the screwdriver and threatened to kill them all.
The witnesses said Davis left the house but returned and kicked the door in to gain entry. He also reportedly threatened to “kill the police, too.”
Brown said, after gathering the information, Davis was transported to the jail and charged.
Lane Travor Kitchens was indicted for aggravated assault family violence and terroristic threats. He was arrested on the charges Nov. 14 by JCSO Deputy Richard Langston.
In his report of the arrest, Langston said he was dispatched to an address on Berry Lane in reference to a domestic dispute. The deputy said, upon arrival, he met with the complainant, who advised the dispute started due to cheating accusations and became physical.
The complainant said the offender grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kill her. The deputy said there were visible marks on both sides of her neck, and she had a busted lip.
Langston said he went outside and spoke to Kitchens, who admitted to a verbal altercation but denied it had gotten physical. The deputy said the suspect was transported to jail and turned over to jail staff for booking.
Travis Roland Byrd was also indicted for aggravated assault. A report of his arrest by Brown stated he was dispatched Nov. 25 to an address on Luke Smith Road in reference to damage to property.
The deputy said he made contact with the complainant, who said no one wanted to press charges. Brown said he needed to see Byrd to make sure he was alright. The deputy said Byrd told him about the altercation leading to the property damage that started with a disagreement with a relative about religion.
The argument became physical when Byrd started choking the relative. Brown was told another family member got involved to break up the fight, and Byrd received cuts on his shoulder.
The deputy said EMS was called to checkout Byrd’s injuries, and he was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Brown said Byrd was the primary aggressor, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
