BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PILGRIM — A reported armed confrontation inside a Little Rockcastle Road home ended with misdemeanor charges Sunday after Kentucky State Police said they were unable to locate the handgun or baseball bat allegedly used in the dispute.
Terri L. Sammons, 44, of Lovely, was arrested June 28 and charged with fourth-degree assault (minor injury) and second-degree criminal trespassing following the incident.
According to the arrest citation, Kentucky State Police Post 9 received a 911 call at 8:49 p.m. from April Howell, who reported she had been assaulted with a baseball bat at her residence and said Sammons had left the home on foot toward Frog Pond Road.
When Trooper T. Salyer arrived at 3584 Little Rockcastle Road, he found Sammons standing in the driveway. The trooper reported observing blood on her shirt. Sammons told him the blood came from an injury to her elbow.
While interviewing Howell, Salyer said she alleged Sammons entered the residence about 10 minutes before the 911 call carrying a handgun and a baseball bat. Howell told the trooper Sammons pressed the handgun against the head of her father, Ked Fletcher, then pointed it at her before striking her right foot with the baseball bat.
Salyer observed a small laceration about one-quarter inch long on Howell’s right toe but wrote that the injury did not appear consistent with being struck by a baseball bat.
Howell also had a scratch on her back. She told the trooper the injury occurred when Sammons pulled up her shirt during the struggle in an attempt to pull it over her head. Howell said she managed to take the baseball bat away from Sammons during the altercation but denied striking Sammons with it.
Salyer reported searching the residence and surrounding property but was unable to locate either the handgun or the baseball bat.
Sammons disputed Howell’s account, telling the trooper Howell had picked her up earlier that evening and asked her to help clean the residence so social services would not remove Howell’s father from the home.
According to the citation, Sammons said Howell later accused her of stealing Fletcher’s medication. Sammons alleged Howell was the one armed with the baseball bat and that a physical altercation followed. She also claimed Howell was intoxicated and cut her own toe on a razor while showering.
While speaking with Howell, Salyer wrote that he observed “a blue-colored residue on her teeth and extending down her chin.”
Sammons also alleged Howell had taken her father’s medication herself and was attempting to blame Sammons for its disappearance.
Howell told the trooper she had instructed Sammons to leave the residence.
Sammons was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault and second-degree criminal trespassing.
The allegations contained in the arrest citation represent the claims of those involved and have not been proven in court.