A Tennessee man recently interrupted a Sunday worship service in Church Hill by announcing that he was high on bath salts.
Members of the Ross Campground Church called police after the incident and notified officials that the man had fled on foot.
When police combed the area, they found Ronnie Hardesty, 36, of Rogersville standing on the porch of a nearby home. He was reportedly wielding a large hammer, which he had used to bang on the door, demanding that the homeowners allow entry.
Sergeant Nathan Simpson and Deputy Jason Montgomery then ordered Hardesty to let go of the hammer.
“Sergeant Simpson told Mr. Hardesty to come to us, and he stated ‘I’m not going back to jail’ and refused to put the hammer on the ground,” Montgomery wrote in a police report. “Sergeant Simpson and myself unholstered our weapons and gave verbal commands to drop his weapon, at which time Mr. Hardesty began to run toward an open field to cross a wire fence.”
After tripping and falling to the ground, Hardesty reportedly swung his hammer at police, and continued running.
However, moments later, he was apprehended and transported to the Hawkins County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated assault, attempted burglary, public intoxication, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hardesty remains in jail under $75,000 bond and is scheduled for an arraignment on October 22nd.
Become a Christian News Network Supporter...
Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God's word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!
