Man jailed for vehicle assault

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
A Russellville man was arrested and jailed Friday morning after a domestic dispute turned into a bizarre downtown assault with an automobile.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said Michael Anthony Potts, 21, of 1320 1/2 North Jackson Ave. in Russellville, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted assault, leaving the scene of an accident, having no insurance, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The assault charge is a Class C felony, punishable by 1-10 years in prison upon conviction. The other charges are misdemeanors.
Hargett said Potts is also being held for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for violating his probation on a recent charge of aggravated assault.
RPD Investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said Potts was involved Friday morning in a domestic dispute with his wife. According to police, Potts' wife left the house in a vehicle and Potts followed her in another vehicle that also contained the couple's three children. Lowery said Potts rammed his wife's car from behind at the intersection of Jackson and Madison in downtown Russellville and pushed the car through the intersection.
One of the first witnesses of the event was Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell.
Mansell called the police on the radio, he said, and in the meantime, Potts' wife came back around the block and told Mansell her husband was chasing her.
Said Lowery, "He just abandoned those kids and took off running."
The children and wife were transported to Russellville Hospital by the Pleasant Bay ambulance service, Lowery said, but all were released without serious injury.
Potts' bond was set Friday at $21,000. He was transferred to the Franklin County Jail, where he was being held at press time without bond due to his probation violation.