A Brookhaven man allegedly broke into a woman’s home twice on Saturday night and assaulted her in front of her 13-year-old child, authorities said.
Pike County sheriff’s deputies charged 33-year-old Dedric Perkins, 118 Short St., Brookhaven, with two counts of burglary and one count of simple assault.
The incident marks the end of a nearly two-week lull in reports of violent crimes in Pike County.
Chief Investigator Bruce Fairburn said deputies on Saturday night responded twice to the home of Sanetra Mack on Climmons Road, near the Progress community.
Mack first called 911 after Perkins allegedly kicked in the front door of her home and assaulted her while she was at home with her 13-year-old child. Mack and Perkins reportedly had a previous domestic relationship.
“They get in an argument, and he starts hitting her and kicking her,” Fairburn said.
Mack reportedly managed to run Perkins off the property and alert law enforcement.
“As we went out there and took the report, he was nowhere to be found,” the investigator said.
Shortly after deputies left, however, Perkins allegedly returned and broke through an additional door, gaining entry to the home.
Fairburn said Perkins chased the victim into the kitchen, where she grabbed a small knife and stabbed Perkins twice in the arm.
“It was real minor,” he said, referring to the suspect’s stab wounds. “Basically it was self-defense on her part.”
Fairburn said someone in the home called 911, prompting the suspect to flee before deputies arrived.
Shortly thereafter, however, deputies arrested Perkins after spotting him near Jewel Drive and Old 24 Highway.
As of Monday night Perkins remained in the Pike County jail. Bond information was not immediately available.
Fairburn said the 33-year-old is a convicted felon with a history of aggravated assault charges.
