A Century man who yelled threats from inside his yard at neighbors June 16 and subsequently struck one with a machete now faces a felony assault charge.
William Randall Coker, 51, 403 Front Street, was arrested last week when officers responded to an aggravated assault complaint and found a 66-year-old neighbor bleeding, according to an Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff's Office report.
Witnesses said Coker had been in his front yard yelling to the entire neighborhood, warning them not to “mess with him, or he would kill them” prior to the officers' arrival.
Coker's neighbor, William Wilson, Sr., told officers following the outburst he walked over to Coker's residence to check on his well-being, the report said.
Wilson knocked on the front door and Coker opened it. Wilson said Coker struck him in the head with a machete and officers noted blood on the front porch and in the roadway. Wilson was bleeding from the left side of his head, according to the report.
When officers spoke to Coker, he told them the machete was on the couch in his residence and voluntarily allowed them inside the residence to seize it.
The report noted that in the same location the deputies found a second homemade machete, a large knife and two large wooden sticks, which were seized as evidence.
Wilson was not treated on scene but transported to Jay Hospital by family members. The report said Wilson had a 7 and ½ centimeter cut on the left side of his head just below his left ear.
Coker was arrested and charged with one count aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older. He was transported to the Escambia County Jail, where he was given a bond of $100,000.
