A Mountain Home man accused of threatening to hit a roommate with an axe and cutting him with a knife appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday and entered a not guilty plea to an aggravated assault charge.Thirty-one-year-old Justin Bryce – also known as Justin Ewalt – was arrested after a Mountain Home Police officer responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence along Hillcrest Drive just before midnight Aug. 6.
The officer reported he could see someone beating on a door to an upstairs room with a wooden club and heard a female screaming. Because it appeared someone might have already been injured, or be in immediate danger, the officer entered the residence through an unlocked door.
Bryce was identified as the person beating on the door. He was ordered to drop the club he was using and come down the stairs with his hands up. He complied and was taken into custody.
After Bryce was in handcuffs, the officer checked on a male and female, who also lived in the apartment. They said Bryce had been drinking heavily and got out of control.
The male said Bryce had threatened him with an axe and had also cut him across the stomach with a knife.
When the officer arrived, the couple said Bryce was attempting to break down their bedroom door to “attack” them.
Bryce is in the Baxter County jail with bond set at $10,000. He asked Circuit Judge John Putman to lower the bond, but after reading the probable cause affidavit, the judge denied the request.
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