Allegedly attacking his female companion with a machete has put a Minden man in the parish prison, according to Chief of Police Jared McIver.

McIver said 57-year-old Tony F. Thomas, is charged with felony domestic abuse battery for the early Monday morning attack. He is also charged on an outstanding warrant through the Minden PD. Thomas is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where bond has not been set.

McIver said Officer Cody James contacted the victim at a residence in the 600 block of Sibley Rd. around 1:15 a.m. and learned she had been involved in an argument with Thomas.

According to the victim’s statement, she was attempting to retrieve her belongings from Thomas’ vehicle. The couple began to argue and during an ensuing struggle, Thomas allegedly struck her in the head with a machete. 

Officer James reportedly observed a straight, clean cut of approximately two inches on the victim’s head just above her left eye.

Thomas reportedly told the officer he had acted in self defense and that he and the victim had “tussled” for several minutes during the incident. Thomas also reportedly said he and the victim had been in an off-and-on relationship for years and they had been living together for about one month.

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.

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