Carter County man faces felony assault charges

Published 7:16 pm Monday, April 17, 2023

A Carter County man faces a felony assault charge after the Carter County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a neighbor dispute involving weapons on Saturday.

Deputies arrested Wayland Dale Hammonds, 51, of 143 Sarah Annie Drive, on Saturday evening and charged him with aggravated assault.

Deputies originally responded to a residence on Sarah Annie Drive around 7:30 p.m. Saturday after multiple people in the area called 911 to report a fight in progress involving weapons. Following the investigation into the incident and speaking with the parties involved as well as additional witnesses, deputies placed Hammonds under arrest charging him with aggravated assault.

According to Sheriff Mike Fraley, a man and his wife had been at the home located at 147 Sarah Annie Drive showing the residence to potential buyers when a man, later identified as Hammonds, came out of a neighboring residence and began a verbal altercation with the man and woman.

“During the argument, Mr. Hammonds struck the male subject and a physical altercation ensued,” Sheriff Fraley said. “At some point during the fight, Mr. Hammonds went back into his home and came back outside with an axe, which he then brandished at the male subject and his wife,” Sheriff Fraley said. “The male subject, who is a concealed carry permit holder, then drew his firearm.

“Mr. Hammonds threw the axe at the male subject and fled back to his residence,” Fraley added. “After going back into his home, Mr. Hammonds called 911 and reported a man had threatened him with a firearm.” During the investigation, officers spoke with all the parties involved in the incident as well as additional witnesses and determined that Hammonds was the primary aggressor in the altercation. Hammonds was taken into custody and transported to the Carter County Detention Center, where he was released on April 16 after posting a $25,000 bond.