Deputies were still on scene taking a statement when the phone started ringing — over and over — with officers listening as a man allegedly hurled insults and profanity at his wife in real time.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to assist Chesapeake police with a possible domestic situation that quickly escalated beyond a simple argument.
When deputies arrived, they made contact with a man at the residence who appeared intoxicated and visibly upset with both his brother and his wife, whom he is currently divorcing. Deputies noted the man asked pointed questions about when he would be justified in using a firearm if his brother returned to the property, immediately raising safety concerns.
Deputies also spoke with the brother across the street. He was also intoxicated, and both men initially agreed to stay inside their homes and avoid further contact for the night.
That agreement didn’t hold for long.
The man’s wife soon contacted deputies by phone, reporting that he had made multiple threats toward her and other family members and saying she feared the situation was escalating. While deputies were waiting for her to arrive to provide a statement, another woman and her teenage daughter showed up and reported that the man had made obscene gestures toward them from his porch.
When the wife arrived, she provided a written statement alleging that during an earlier confrontation, the man told her he was going to shoot her. She said she did not feel safe and wanted charges pursued.
As she attempted to complete her statement, the man repeatedly called her phone, shouting profanities and insults — loud enough for deputies to hear. The calls became so disruptive that deputies placed her phone in airplane mode so she could finish her statement without interference.
With additional deputies on scene, officers returned to the man’s residence to place him under arrest.
The man opened the door, let his dog out, and invited deputies inside. While speaking with him in the living room, deputies observed a firearm in plain view and readily accessible in an adjacent bedroom. When the man requested to use the restroom — located near the firearms — deputies unloaded and secured the weapons for safety.
The man was advised the firearms would be taken into custody for safekeeping due to the threats being investigated. He acknowledged and understood. Deputies secured seven firearms, including six long guns and one revolver.
After retrieving personal belongings from his vehicle, the man was placed in a patrol vehicle and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
He was charged with aggravated menacing and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on February 2.
Court records show the man has a prior history involving threatening and violent behavior, including past arrests for disorderly conduct, violating a protection order, and domestic violence. He also previously faced stalking charges that resulted in a suspended fine after the victim failed to appear.
Experts say when threats continue — especially while officers are present and documenting the situation — there is little room to wait things out. At that point, the priority becomes stopping the behavior before it turns into something worse.
