From WRIL The Big One -
On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Middlesboro officers, led by Morgan Justice, responded to a report of assault and strangulation at the Yoakum Apartments.
The female victim alleged that 31-year-old Danny Lenz had assaulted her and her son before fleeing towards his home on 46th Street. Officer Justice gathered a description of Lenz to assist other officers in locating him.
The victim described two incidents involving Lenz. In the first, he harassed her, strangled her, and punched a hole in the wall with her her son intervening to stop him.
The second incident involved Lenz returning to her residence, cursing and banging on her front door. He was told to leave and then he pushed an air conditioning unit through the window, threatening to climb into the apartment. She says her son opened the door armed with a baseball bat and Lenz then assaulted him. She was able to pull the man off her son leading to Lenz throwing things inside the home, upending an appliance.
Officers Marcum and Saylor found Lenz at the intersection of 46th and Winchester, where he attempted to flee into an abandoned trailer. After a struggle, and taser deployment, he was subdued and arrested. At Middlesboro Police headquarters for processing, Lenz spat in Officer Saylor's face and was subsequently pepper-sprayed.
Danny Lenz was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with:
Burglary - 1st degree
Strangulation - 1st degree (domestic violence related)
Assault - 4th degree
Fleeing or evading police (on foot) - 1st degree
Resisting arrest
Disorderly conduct
Assault 3rd degree - peace officer - communicable bodily fluid
Criminal mischief - 2nd degree
Alcohol intoxication in a public place - 1st and 2nd offense
He is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.
Lenz is also being held on a Knox County Tennessee Sheriff's Department fugitive from justice warrant.