A July 4 weekend hangout at the Percy Priest Lake overlook parking lot turned into a scene out of a low-budget action movie on Sunday, when police say a 55-year-old Nashville man pulled an axe and started swinging it during an argument over loud music.
According to an arrest affidavit and reports provided to local media, the confrontation unfolded at the popular overlook area, where two men were parked when a dispute about the volume of music escalated fast.
Metro Nashville Police say the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Curtis Russell, first confronted another man and demanded that he turn his music down. The victim told officers that Russell used racial slurs, then slapped the phone out of his hand. As reported by WSMV, the affidavit states that Russell then walked to his truck, pulled out an axe and began swinging it while yelling about the music volume.
What Police Say Happened
Officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department were called to the scene after an assault was reported. When they took Russell into custody, they allegedly found a "crack pipe" in his possession, according to WSMV.
Once in the patrol car, Russell allegedly did not calm down. The affidavit says he repeatedly banged his head against the plexiglass partition and the door, and spat all over the backseat. He was booked Sunday morning and is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony, along with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and drug possession.
Charges And Legal Process
The counts listed in the arrest affidavit include a mix of felony and misdemeanor charges that will move forward through the criminal court system. As with any criminal case, Russell is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court as the matter proceeds to arraignment and any future hearings.
Safety At The Lake
The overlook where the confrontation occurred is part of J. Percy Priest Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District recreation area that regularly pulls in big crowds on summer holidays. The Corps has cited the overlook parking area in road closure and maintenance notices, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.
The latest axe incident lands on a growing list of dust-ups around the lake. In a previous case, a man was arrested after allegedly hammering a woman's car in a Percy Priest parking lot, an episode detailed by NewsChannel 5 that led to renewed calls for more patrols and improved safety measures in the area.
Police say the investigation into the most recent incident remains active, and Russell is being held pending court proceedings. Anyone who witnessed the altercation or has video of what happened is asked to contact Metro Nashville Police.
