WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)- Monday afternoon News Channel 11 had a camera in the courtroom as Washington County, Tennessee school board member David Hammond was arraigned on an assault charge.
David Hammond was arrested Friday on domestic simple assault charges, according to Washington County jail officials.
According to a report from the Johnson City Police Department, officers arrived at 115 Beechnut St. Thursday night on reports of an assault. A woman told officers that she was arguing with her boyfriend, Hammond, when he began assaulting her, the release said.
Hammond was gone by the time police arrived, the report said, and the woman had bruises on her arms and torso. She told officers it wasn’t the first time Hammond had assaulted her – the report said he grabbed and shoved her two days prior.
She told officers Thursday night’s argument began over Hammond’s alleged drug and alcohol consumption.
Hammond called the woman while officers were with her, the report said, and officers said his speech was slurred and he “sounded extremely intoxicated.“
Officers went to Hammond’s home an hour later to arrest him, but no one would answer the door. Officers noted that someone kept peeking through the upstairs blinds, but wouldn’t answer the door.
Officers arrested Hammond Friday at Restore Community Church, 376 Bob Jobe Road.
Hammond was charged with domestic violence in 2015, but the charge was dismissed in 2016.
Hammond has served on the Washington County school board since 2010 according to his bio on the Washington County Board of Education website.
News Channel 11 reached out to Washington County Director of Schools, Dr. Bill Flanary, over the weekend. Dr. Flanary said on the advice of counsel the school system had no official comment.
Jackie DeFusco spoke with Hammond after he was arraigned Monday. You will hear what Hammond had to say about the charges starting on News Channel 11 at 5.
