Law enforcement race to domestic involving juvenile, man hit with shovel

Local law enforcement, fire and medical staff were busy Wednesday morning, June 19, 2020 when a three vehicle accident and a domestic call occurred simultaneously.

One female was transported after a black pick up failed to stop for a traffic light at the corner of Park Avenue and Linden Avenue. The impact of the pickup caused the vehicle in front of her to strike another car also stopped for the light.

At approximately the same time, in the Spurgeon Drive area, when both the HPD and Lewis County Sheriff deputies arrived at the scene of a domestic call on Sycamore Street, they found a juvenile and his mother outside the residence covered in blood.

Deborah Spurgeon told police she came home from work to find another female at her house. She stated she “did slap [Michael] Potts” in anger and went outside to “make the female leave.”

At that time, the police report indicates, she stated Potts also came outside, and started to strike her. The juvenile began to defend his mother and was reportedly attacked by Potts who began “punching [the juvenile] ... and started choking” him.

When her son began to turn purple, Deborah told police she found a shovel and “struck Potts over the head” three or four times.

Potts ran into the house which law enforcement surrounded as they arrived, believing he was armed. Potts called dispatch to say he was alone and unarmed then exited the residence without incident.

Warrants were filed on Spurgeon for slapping Potts in the face. Warrants were filed on Potts for placing the juvenile in a hold that restricted his breathing. No charges were filed against the juvenile who was defending his mother who was under assault.