A man has been charged with felony aggravated assault after being accused of attacking Newton public works superintendent Fred Snow.
Police Chief Randy Patrick said the suspect arrested was Tyrone Wheaton, 48, who was charged with aggravated assault of a person. The suspect was still in jail as of Monday on $15,000 bond.
Patrick said Snow was at the residence at 110 Lewis Avenue in Newton checking the water meter, and Snow observed that the meter had been tampered with.
Snow said he was turning the water back off when a suspect got out of the vehicle, came up behind him and attacked him.
“He hit me over the head first,” Snow said. “He injured my arm and then put me in a chokehold... He beat me up pretty good.”
Once the suspect let Snow go, Snow said he called for an ambulance. He was treated and released. While Snow has been able to return to work, he said he hasn’t been able to resume his full responsibilities due to his injury.
Snow said the water customer had a history of nonpayment. He said the lock that the city put on the meter was broken and the water was turned back on.
Patrick said they are continuing to investigate the case. Additional charges are probable by the time the case heads to a grand jury.
