Man charged with assaulting another outside hospital ER

An alleged altercation on Wednesday afternoon turned into a violet fight outside Russellville Hospital that sent one person inside for treatment, officials said.
Jeffery Allan Hamm, 29, 1633 Cook Creek Rd., Russellville, was charged with second-degree assault and public intoxication, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.
According to Hargett, officers received reports that Hamm allegedly assaulted a person who is mentally challenged on Wednesday afternoon.
When a member of that person’s family found out about the alleged assault, he made contact with Hamm later that evening.
“The altercation actually started on Beech Street and ended up in the parking lot of the Russellville ER,” investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said. “Medical personnel working in the ER notified the police department that there was an assault taking place outside.”
Lowery said when officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the victim had suffered a compound fracture to his lower leg and had been transported inside the ER to receive treatment.
“Because of the severity of the injury, Mr. Hamm was charged with second-degree assault,” Lowery said. “We’re still trying to determine exactly what happened to get the fight started in the first place and if there was anyone else involved.”
Lowery said the case is still under investigation.
Hamm is in custody at the Franklin County Jail awaiting a bond revocation hearing.
Hamm was out on bond in a second-degree robbery case from earlier in the year where he and another man are accused of robbing a Hispanic male at gunpoint on New Year’s Eve.