Bradley County authorities have arrested a Cleveland, Tennessee, man on allegations that he drove his car toward a local judge who was walking a pet along a neighborhood street.
Joshua Dale Philip Sanford, 31, faces charges of aggravated assault and retaliation for a past action, according to a press release from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. The incident, described by investigators as an assault, was reported on Thursday. The judge involved has not been named.
“A local judge reported, while walking their dog on the side of the road in a neighborhood, they were alarmed by a rapidly approaching vehicle driven by Joshua Dale Phillip Sanford and hastily moved out of the way, fearing that both themselves and their dog would be struck,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Robert Jones said in the release. “The driver then reversed and re-approached the judge in an aggressive manner, prompting further fear for personal safety.”
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Authorities allege Sanford made comments “that placed the judge in fear that he was going to retaliate for past actions,” Jones said.
Sanford is being held without bond in the Bradley County Jail pending an arraignment on Friday in General Sessions Court, authorities said.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available, Jones said, but no victim information will be released while the investigation is active.
Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.
