2 Incidents involving an AXE occurred over the weekend
Over the weekend two separate events occurred involving hatchets and axes. On Saturday, Dec. 17, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call about a man walking around the West Jefferson area carrying a hatchet.
Later that afternoon, Sheriff Deputies arrested Thomas Lee Howard Jr. “TJ”, for drug-related charges. Howard is currently being held at the Ashe County Detention Center under a $40,000 bond. On Sunday, Dec. 18, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call reporting a male subject armed with a hatchet causing damage to storefront buildings and residential apartments in downtown Lansing. Sheriff Deputies Johnson and Wingler began a search of the immediate area and were able to locate the subject. Jason Dwayne Bennett, was arrested and is currently being held at the Ashe County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond. Many businesses and residential properties, including the Lansing Post Office, sustained several thousand dollars of damage. Bennett said he did this because the voices in his head demanded it. He has initially been charged with four counts of injury to personal property and one count of going armed to terror of the public. Additional charges are expected in the immediate future.
