Jim Hammond
James Hammond IVHamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond's son was arrested Monday morning and charged with domestic assault after investigators believe he hit his wife in the head with a beer bottle.
Investigators say James "Jimi" Hammond IV, 41, got into an argument with his wife on Sunday that ended with her in the hospital.
The sheriff has recused himself from the case and his son, who works as the webmaster at the sheriff's office, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of both a criminal investigation and an internal affairs investigation.
"I would only say I've turned it over to my chief deputy to handle it and I've recused myself," Jim Hammond said.
On Sunday, James Hammond's wife told deputies at the hospital that her husband "jumped her" when she got out of the shower, punched her in the face, pushed her into a mirror and shattered it, then struck her in the head with a beer bottle.
She required several staples to close the wound to her head.
Investigators found blood in James Hammond's bathroom in his home on Signal Mountain, as well as a shattered mirror, clothing with blood on it and other evidence that corroborated the wife's story, according to the affidavit.
James Hammond let investigators inspect his home and said that he and his wife had been arguing most of the day. He said she hit him several times in the face and that he had "had enough."
He told investigators from the sheriff's office that he struck his wife with a beer bottle.
James Hammond has been charged with aggravated assault and was still in custody at the Hamilton County Jail on a $20,000 bond on Monday. He is set to appear in court Feb. 2.
Chief Deputy Allen Branum, who took over the case after the sheriff recused himself, said launching an internal affairs investigation is standard procedure when any allegations are levied against an employee, especially if those allegations are criminal.
He added that James Hammond's suspension with pay later could be changed to a suspension without pay.
The sheriff's office will continue to handle the criminal side of the investigation, Branum said, unless the district attorney requests an outside agency's help, such as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
"But we don't anticipate that at this point," Branum said.
James Hammond previously has been cited for speeding in 2004, driving without a license in 1996 and driving with a suspended license in 1995, records show.
According to a 2014 budget, he makes $44,236 a year in his role as webmaster at the sheriff's office.
Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.