A man whom the Hale County Sheriff’s Office had asked the public to help locate is in custody, charged with domestic violence and criminal mischief after he allegedly struck a woman in the head with a large can of applesauce and damaged her vehicle in April.
Austin Wade Johnson, 23, of 71 Wade Road, Greensboro, was arrested June 6. As of June 8, Hale County District Court records listed his status as jailed, with bond set at $60,000.
Before the arrest, the sheriff’s office had issued a public notice seeking help locating Johnson, saying he was wanted on domestic violence charges.
According to the sworn complaint, deputies were dispatched on April 19 to a store in the Havana community in reference to a woman who wanted to report being assaulted.
Deputies reported observing a large knot on the right side of her forehead, a cut and bruising under her left eye, and an open gash on top of her head.
The victim told the deputy that Johnson struck her in the face three times with a large can of applesauce, the complaint states. She said Johnson then took her cellphone and threw it at her vehicle several times, breaking a tail light, cracking the windshield, and damaging the vehicle, according to the complaint.
Deputies went to Johnson’s residence, where he denied assaulting the woman, the complaint states. After leaving to consult a supervisor, deputies returned to arrest him, but Johnson had already left in a relative’s vehicle.
While waiting for him to return, deputies reported finding a watch belonging to the woman on the roof of the house, in a rain gutter.
Johnson is charged with second-degree domestic violence and second-degree criminal mischief.
