By Brian C. Rittmeyer

Published: Monday, November 26, 2012, 2:50 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, November 27, 2012

State police have charged a 19-year-old Freeport man with throwing a 9-inch screwdriver at his mother, embedding it in her leg up to the handle.

Jonathan Zachary Ferguson fled his Third Street home after the Saturday morning incident, but he surrendered at the state police station in East Franklin on Monday morning.

According to police, Ferguson argued with his mother, Amy Butler Smith, 50, at their home. During an altercation, he allegedly threw the Phillips head screwdriver, which entered her left thigh just above the knee.

Smith was taken by ambulance to ACMH hospital, where she was treated for her injury.

According to court documents, Smith kicked in the door to her son's bedroom around 10 a.m. Saturday after finding it locked and not knowing his condition. She found him sleeping, detected the odor of alcohol and saw liquor bottles throughout his bedroom.

Smith became upset and started arguing with her son, who was out on bail she had posted after he had been charged with underage drinking in Allegheny County in August.

During the argument, Ferguson allegedly told his mother “that if he had a gun he would kill her,” according to court documents.

Smith left the bedroom and Ferguson locked the door. He then broke out the bottom panel of the wooden door and began throwing things at his mother, including the screwdriver, striking her in the leg.

Ferguson is charged with simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment.

He was arraigned by Leechburg District Judge James Andring and committed to the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bond.

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4701 or brittmeyer@tribweb.com.

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