Sep 2, 2014 2 min read

A Marianna man was arrested early Friday by state police after a domestic dispute at his home.

Michael R. Sims, 34, of 20 Church St., is accused of assaulting 35-year-old Melissa Stevens and threatening her and five children ranging in age from 6 months to 13 years old.

Stevens told police the two had been arguing when he reportedly punched her in the face and then shoved and choked her. Sims reportedly told Stevens he would kill everyone inside the house. She told police two of the children, a 12-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, tried to intervene but he reportedly choked them.

The 13-year-old girl told police she was awakened by the argument. She told police she tried to pull Sims off Stevens but he choked her. She told police that she went to a neighbor’s home for help after he made the threats.

The neighbor told police she was awakened when three of the children came to her home for help because their mother was being assaulted by Sims.

When police took Sims into custody, he refused to give the trooper the house key so Stevens could check on the younger children. He then struggled with three state troopers as they tried to retrieve the keys.

Sims was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest and three counts of harassment. He was placed in Washington County jail on $75,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing is set for today before Thompson.