Crockett Man Arrested for Domestic Violence

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A verbal altercation in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 21 led to the arrest of 56-year-old Mark Tabor on one count of assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

According to information provided in an arrest report, Crockett Police Lt. Lonnie Lum was dispatched to the 1300 block of Mary Lee Lane at approximately 1:48 a.m. on Dec. 21 in reference to a physical disturbance.

When Lum arrived at the location, the arrest report stated the police officer observed Tabor on the front porch of the residence with blood on his arms. The report went on to state Lum was familiar with the residence because the police department had “… received numerous calls to the residence over the years for similar situations.”

The arrest report also indicated CPD Officer Detric Murray had responded to the location along with Lum.  While Lum questioned Tabor about the reported incident, Officer Murray spoke with the victim.

The report alleged Tabor repeatedly informed Lum the victim was intoxicated and had pushed him into the bushes which was why he had blood on his person.

“Mark (Tabor) was intoxicated and not forthcoming with information. Mark did say he and (the victim) had been at a restaurant and had been drinking,” the report stated.

The report further indicated an argument developed between Tabor and the victim after the victim had expressed her desire to drive home. Because of the victim’s intoxication level, Tabor reportedly told the law enforcement officials he would not let her drive.

In addition, Tabor informed police the victim fell in the parking lot and hit her head, the arrest report stated.

While he was still questioning Tabor, Lum stated in the report he overheard Murray request an ambulance to be dispatched to the Mary Lee Lane location.

“I then made contact with Officer Murray. He told me (the victim) had first told him that Mark had hit her. He said that after that, she was not very cooperative and would not give much information,” Lum stated in the arrest report.

As the paramedics were treating the victim in the back of the ambulance, the report stated Lum entered the ambulance and observed “… a huge knot on the left side of the victim’s forehead, which was bleeding slightly. I also observed that she had blood around her lips and some red marks near and around her left eye and neck area.”

The report stated it did not appear as if the victim had fallen down and as the EMS crew treated her, the victim was less than cooperative.

“She did say at one point,” according to the arrest report, “that ‘he came at her’ but then a few minutes later she said that she fell down inside the house. She was highly intoxicated and would not cooperate much more than that, at this time.”

The report added Lum spoke with one of the paramedics at the location who told the police lieutenant, the victim initially described how she had been hit. The paramedic added he did not believe the injuries were consistent with just a simple fall.

Because of inconsistencies in Tabor’s statement, when compared to the victim’s statement, along with the multiple injuries the victim displayed and the allegations of assault made to both law enforcement and medical personnel, the report stated Tabor was arrested and transported to the Houston County Jail.

Lum continued his investigation and traveled to the scene where Tabor and the victim had been drinking, the report stated.  He reported he saw the victim’s vehicle along with several other items which appeared to have been thrown, rather than dropped by a person who fell.

After leaving the scene of the victim’s vehicle, Lum traveled to Timberlands Healthcare to continue his investigation into the alleged assault.

“During my investigation at the E.R., (the victim) did admit to being assaulted by Mark and advised staff that it has been going on for a long time,” Lum stated in the arrest report.

“(The victim) was still not completely cooperative and was not willing to give details. (The victim) had both new and old injuries and her current injuries were probably that of an assault and not a fall,” the arrest report stated.

Tabor was booked into the jail on one count of assault causing bodily injury to a family member. The offense is considered a Class “A” misdemeanor.

Bond was set at $4,000 and posted later that same day which allowed Tabor to be released, pending trial.

An emergency protective order has been issued in regard to this matter.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].