Hatchet Attack Leads To Charges In Stafford County: Police

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A man was arrested on Wednesday after authorities claimed he used a hatchet to try and stop a car being towed. The man, who police identified as Jon Pate Jr., will face several charges in Stafford General District Court.

Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office responded to the England Run Apartments at 12:12 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30. Authorities had received a report of "a disturbance with a weapon," according to a Facebook post from the sheriff's office.

"The investigation revealed a tow truck driver was attempting to tow a vehicle parked in a no parking zone when he was confronted by an angry, intoxicated man," the sheriff's office wrote. The man was attempting to defuse the situation by informing the tow truck driver that the car, which belonged to a relative, had permission to park in the area.

The man's persuasion attempt was unsuccessful, and the driver began to tow the vehicle away, police said. However, as the tow truck attempted to leave, the man began kicking the boom of the truck, according to authorities.

Then things escalated. "The suspect struck the truck window several times with a hatchet-like weapon," the sheriff's office said.

The tow truck driver was reasonably startled by this and sped away from the area, according to police. As he fled, the boom of the tow truck ripped off the other car's bumper and damaged a headline, authorities said.

A passenger was accompanying the tow truck driver during the incident. Neither of the truck's occupants were injured, according to the police report.

During their investigation, one Stafford County deputy claimed to recover a hatchet from Pate's vehicle.

Pate was charged with vandalism, public intoxication, and two counts of assault and battery. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until he was sober, police said.

Pate is scheduled to appear in Stafford General District Court on Wednesday, July 7.