A Leola man was arrested on felony assault charges early Saturday after allegedly firing a gun at his girlfriend while she hid from him behind a tree with a machete.
Andrew Romac Edwards, 35, was taken into custody shortly before 1:30 a.m. near Lena Landing Recreation Area in Jessieville and charged with a felony count of aggravated assault, punishable by up to six years in prison.
He remained in custody in lieu of $2,500 bond and appeared in Garland County District Court on Monday.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Garland County sheriff's Deputies Jimmy Caldwell and Aaron Bowerman were dispatched to the Lena Landing area in reference to a domestic disturbance. While en route, dispatch informed them they would have to use a boat to get to the scene.
The deputies got a ride on the Jessieville Fire Department boat and met with the alleged victim, 35, who stated her boyfriend, identified as Edwards, had left for a job interview and she failed to pick him up afterward. She said she found out he was walking back to camp and left to look for him.
She said she found Edwards walking in the woods and he began screaming at her that he was covered in ticks and needed "tick spray." He then got into his boat and launched it into the water and continued to argue with her on land, she said. While they argued, she said she hid behind a tree with a machete.
She said Edwards returned to land and told her, "we are about to figure this out." Then he began searching for her and allegedly saw her hiding behind the tree and began walking her way. She said he pointed a gun at her and fired one shot in her direction.
At that point, she said she told him, "come on up here where I am and get cut up like a man." Edwards then reportedly left in his boat.
When deputies returned with the girlfriend to the boat ramp, Edwards was there and was taken into custody.
Local on 05/22/2018