By Pat Culverhouse

A Heflin man who allegedly struck a juvenile relative in the face, then allegedly threatened to kill him is currently being held in the parish prison on abuse and other serious charges.

Sheriff Jason Parker said 39-year-old Cody Joseph Mellen, a resident of the 3500 block Franklin Rd. is charged with domestic abuse battery, possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines) and introduction of contraband to/from correctional facility.

Mellen reportedly is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where his bond has been set at $10,000.

Webster Parish Detective Lt. Chase Walsworth reportedly was notified Thursday afternoon by parish Deputy Josh Davis that he picked up a walking on Nursery Rd. in Sibley. The juvenile reportedly told the deputy he had been struck in the face by his uncle.

During an interview, Det. Walsworth reportedly observed bruising, swelling and scratches on the young victim’s face. When contacted by investigators at a North 3rd St. residence in Sibley, Mellen reportedly admitted throwing the juvenile on a bed and said he had a Coke can in his hand when he did so.

When Mellen was placed under arrest, Deputy Davis reportedly found a small plastic case in his pocket containing a small baggie of suspected crystal Methamphetamine.

During a further search of the suspect as he was being booked into BDCC, corrections deputies reportedly found a pair of glass pipes used to smoke narcotics hidden in his crotch area.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.