Alton man alleged to have swung axe during attempted assault

CIRCUIT COURT — An Alton man was ordered held on $2,000 cash bail after allegedly swinging an ax at a man that he knows.

Police complaints also indicated that Rodney Moody, 22, of 6 Gilmans Corner Road resisted arrest when police arrived and purposely damaged a camper window and a chicken coup, all on Monday. He is charged with one count of attempted second degree assault, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.

According to affidavits obtained from the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division, two police officers responded to a call from a woman who said a male was "going after things with an ax."

When officers arrived, they saw Moody who had a significant amount of blood on his shirt and on his right hand.

The victim indicated that Moody had swung an ax at him and punched a hole with his fist in his camper window.

The two officers spent a "great deal of time" trying to calm Moody to the point where he could be taken into custody. Affidavits said he continued to square off to them and dared them to zap him with a electric stun gun.

After a number of minutes police told him was under arrest and ordered him to lie prone on the ground. They said he refused multiple orders and allegedly told one of the officers he would break his nose.

Following several more attempts to get him to cooperate, one officer zapped Moody with the Taser and he was taken into to custody.

The victims told police that Moody had come into the driveway and was yelling. At one point he allegedly went into the barn and came out with an ax. They told police he swung the ax at their vehicle twice but missed both times.

When the victim tried to calm him down, Moody allegedly swung the ax toward his chest and the ax slipped from his grip and struck a chicken coop.

The victim retrieved the ax to keep it away from Moody. While waiting for police, Moody allegedly broke the door off the chicken coop and punched the window of the camper.

Judge Jim Carroll ordered Moody be held on $2,000 cash-only bail, which he said could be reduced to personal recognizance bail if he obtained a spot in a secure mental health treatment facility, like the New Hampshire State Hospital.

As of 6:30 p.m. yesterday, Moody was still in the Belknap County House of Corrections.