Domestic Dispute Turns Violent

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – A verbal altercation between a male and female, late last week, turned violent and resulted in the arrest of the male subject on a felony charge after he attempted to strangle the female.

John Clifton Reed, 37 years of age with a Crockett address, was arrested on Sept. 21 and charged with assault of a family or household member by impeding their breathing or blood circulation. The charge stemmed from an incident which occurred on Sept. 16.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Reed initiated an argument with the female victim and “… when she smarted back to him for the comment made to her, John Reed got up from the kitchen table and went into the living room where the victim was sitting and flipped the couch onto the victim.”

The affidavit further stated when the victim tried to get up, Reed repeatedly pushed her back down and flipped the couch onto her. Eventually, the victim righted the couch and was able to regain her seat. When she did, however, Reed flipped the couch over on top of her once again.

“Out of frustration,” the affidavit continued, “And after being thrown to the floor repeatedly, the victim grabbed a glass horse head and threw it in the general direction of John Reed, where it hit the wall by his head.”

At that point, the probable cause document indicated, “Reed then turned to the victim and said, ‘I’m going to kill you b**ch,’ and came after her, grabbing her and throwing her into the living room.”

Reed then picked up the victim by her throat and began to strangle her. He took her into the kitchen and placed her near the stove and attempted to burn her by using one of the stove’s burners.

The victim managed to retrieve an object from one of the kitchen drawers “… which turned out to be a butcher knife and began to cut and slice her way away from John Reed’s hold and not to be burnt. Once she was free from his stranglehold, he ran out the door and she was taken away from the residence by a family member,” according to the affidavit.

A warrant was issued for Reed’s arrest on Sept. 19 and Reed was booked into custody on Sept. 21 for the offense of assaulting a family or household member by impeding their breathing or blood circulation.

The charge is a third degree felony which – according to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code – carries a range of punishment of between two and 10 years of incarceration in a state prison, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

Reed posted bond in the amount of $10,000 and was released, pending trial.

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