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JONESBOROUGH – Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputies charged Lyndell Brian Southerland, 59, of Kingsport, with aggravated assault after a minor car collision escalated to a physical altercation.

According to Sheriff Keith Sexton, on the evening of June 18 deputies responded to a 911 call in the 200 block of Moulton Road. Southerland and the victim were involved in an opposite direction sideswipe collision in which both driver’s side mirrors were damaged. The victim stopped and got out of his vehicle and was checking his vehicle for damage. Southerland turned around and pulled behind the victim’s vehicle and engaged in an aggressive verbal altercation, subsequently punching the victim in the face.

When deputies arrived on scene and separated the two, a loaded firearm was discovered in Southerland’s front pocket. He was arrested and transported to the Washington County Detention Center without incident. Southerland’s bond was set at $10,000, and he bonded out. His first court appearance was June 19.