A man accused of threatening someone with a machete and then trying to hit them with his truck in Packwood on Sunday, April 30, is now facing an assault charge in Lewis County Superior Court.
Justin G. Hammond, 34, of Randle, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at 8:15 p.m. on May 3 and has since been charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.
The alleged victim accuses Hammond of approaching him outside a gas station market in Packwood on April 30 and approaching him “with a machete-type item,” according to court documents.
The victim claimed Hammond had been harassing him on Facebook and via text before confronting him at the market in Packwood, where the victim said he was meeting someone to return an item.
Hammond and the victim reportedly “got into an argument,” which ended with Hammond leaving in his vehicle, according to court documents.
The victim said he “followed Hammond to his vehicle,” at which point Hammond allegedly “barely hit him twice (with his car) as Hammond was leaving the area,” according to court documents.
The person the victim was meeting at the market reportedly told law enforcement “she saw Hammond run towards (the victim) with a machete in his hand” and witnessed Hammond nearly hit the victim with his vehicle, according to court documents.
A deputy located Hammond on May 3 and placed him under arrest.
Hammond reportedly “did not provide a statement on the incident” and law enforcement did not locate a machete inside Hammond’s truck.
Hammond’s bail was set at $100,000 on Thursday, May 4.
“The facts in this alleged case create in the court’s mind a concern for community safety,” Judge J. Andrew Toynbee said during Hammond’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
Toynbee also granted an anti-harassment order protecting the alleged victim.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, May 11.
