A McMinnville man has been charged with aggravated domestic assault after allegedly opening fire on an ex-girlfriend’s home.
John Ogden Melton III, according to the arrest warrant, went to his ex-girlfriend’s home on Old Beersheba High-way on Nov. 13 and became irate when he saw another man’s vehicle in the driveway. He began beating on the door and making threats of bodily injury to both individuals. One shot was allegedly fired into the home and Melton fled the scene.
Melton was taken into custody on Friday after wrecking his vehicle in an attempt to avoid capture.
“I was dispatched to Lawson Mill Road due to a copper-colored Ford Mustang driving recklessly at high speeds,” said Warren County deputy Lynn Cannon.
Cannon made visual contact with the vehicle on Viola Road. After the Mustang turned onto Wheeler Road, lights on the patrol vehicle were activated and the Mustang accelerated.
“The Ford Mustang slid sideways several times crossing the center line and three separate times the vehicle did a complete 360 going from ditch to ditch while on Wheeler Road,” said Cannon. “The vehicle finally came to a complete stop when the driver lost control and did another 360 sliding backwards into a fence and hanging onto the vehicle on its driver’s side.”
The pursuit ended in the area of John Lawson Road, but the effort to escape continued. While the passenger exited the vehicle and complied with the deputy’s commands to show his hands and lie on the ground, the driver “kept revving the engine and spinning tires until white smoke was rolling off them in an attempt to flee the scene.”
At gunpoint, Melton ceased the effort and complied with verbal commands to exit the vehicle on the passenger side.
“On Mr. Melton’s belt was a holster to a handgun and when asked, Mr. Melton advised me there were two handguns in the vehicle under the driver’s seat,” said Cannon, who also found what remained of a case of beer. “Mr. Melton admitted to drinking beer and also drinking beer during the pursuit. Mr. Melton admitted the reason he fled in the vehicle was because he knew he had warrants for aggravated assault.”
Melton was transported to Warren County Sheriff’s Department where a bond of $27,000 was set for the charges of aggravated domestic assault, reckless endangerment, evading arrest, possession of a handgun while under the influence, driving under the influence, violation of the open container law, and insurance violation.
