Man arrested after incident involving battery, fire

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HAMBLEN TWP. — A domestic dispute on Bittersweet Lake Lane ended with an arrest for battery and a call for firefighters.

On the evening of Feb. 28, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Followell responded to the 8400 block Bittersweet Lake Lane. A woman told him that Michael L. Slate, 33, had been drinking at a neighbor’s house.

When the woman arrived at the gathering, Slate came out yelling obscenities and was “in her face,” the police report said.

The homeowners told Slate to leave. He walked home and brought back a truck. The woman got in to drive since he had been drinking.

When they arrived home, a small fire was burning in the woods near the home. Followell’s report said Slate began shoving the woman, pushing her to the ground.

Firefighters from three departments were called to the fire at about 7:30 p.m.

Flames escaped to a ravine, but the wind direction helped it stay away from the house, said Hamblen Volunteer Fire Department Chief Arlan Pierce.

Hamblen, Fruitdale and Cordry Sweetwater volunteer departments worked for about an hour to contain it.

No structures were harmed.

Pierce said firefighters saw the remains of tires in the fire, which is illegal.

He also urged residents to avoid burning in windy weather.

“When the wind is blowing, I don’t know why it doesn’t register that you don’t burn,” Pierce said.

Slate was charged Feb. 29 with domestic battery, a Level 6 felony since it was in the presence of a minor. He was arrested at the scene and taken to the Brown County jail.

During an interview, Slate denied hurting the woman, but said he had in the past.

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