Jake Shore
The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)
JASPER COUNTY, S.C. — The grandson and son-in-law of the Levy Fire District chief are facing charges after a family dispute at the fire station Tuesday night turned violent, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Doug Graham, 77, who police said was also threatened with a gun, was taken to Coastal Carolina Hospital for treatment of his injuries, according to Sheriff Chris Malphrus.
Aaron Saxon, 41, the son-in-law of the fire chief, and Christian Saxon, 23, the chief’s grandson, were charged with assault and battery in the second degree. Malphrus said. The charge is a misdemeanor.
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette newspapers do not typically name those charged with misdemeanor crimes. In this case, the incident involved a public official and happened in a public place.
Christian Graham faces an additional charge of pointing a gun at his grandfather, according to the Sheriff’s Office. That charge is is a felony.
The altercation began about 8:30 p.m after the Saxons went to confront Graham at the fire station over changed locks on a rental property, Malphrus said.
Malphrus said Graham owns a number of rental properties in the area and rents to Aaron Saxon’s daughter, who is Graham’s granddaughter. The fire chief allegedly changed the locks on his granddaughter’s rented home, Malphrus said, and her father and brother went to confront him about it.
The argument turned ugly when the Saxons “jumped” on the chief and “beat him up,” according to Malphrus.
After Christian Saxon allegedly pointed the gun, a firefighter called sheriff’s dispatch.
Malphrus said deputies went to the scene, got medical attention for the fire chief and subsequently charged the Saxons.
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©2020 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.)