Hawthorne Man Arrested for Threatening Deputy

HAWTHORNE ‒ Michael Vernon Garrett, 69, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after allegedly threatening to shoot deputies who responded to a report that he was suicidal.

The incident began earlier this year on March 25 when Garrett’s wife called 911 and reported that her husband was intoxicated and threatening to shoot himself.

Garrett was initially inside their house, but he came outside on the porch after deputies arrived. Deputies reported that Garrett did not comply with repeated commands to put down his handgun and made multiple statements that he wanted the deputies to shoot him. Garrett also allegedly made multiple threats to harm deputies if they did not shoot him. At one point he reportedly left the porch and approached deputies. He was then shot by a deputy and was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Following an investigation, a sworn complaint was filed on Aug. 12, charging Garrett with aggravated assault on a deputy. A formal charge was filed on Nov. 8, and a warrant was issued by Judge Phillip Pena on Nov. 15 with a recommended bond of $25,000. Garrett was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Garrett has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $10,000 with conditions that he surrender all his firearms and be fitted with a GPS monitor. Garrett has posted bond and has been released.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com