By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
A family Christmas party turned violent in late December, leading to the arrest of a Flomaton man on assault charges Monday.
Jimmy Cash, 48, of Flomaton was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals North Florida Violent Task Force and officers with the Flomaton Police Department Monday afternoon at his home on Upper Creek Road.
Cash “just snapped” during the Christmas gathering, law enforcement officials said.
He was arrested on six charges that stemmed from an assault during a family Christmas gathering, Flomaton police Chief Mike Lambert said.
Cash is wanted on an Escambia County, Fla., warrant charging him with battery or domestic battery by strangulation, battery on a person 65 years or older, a felony charge of cruelty toward child/abuse without great harm and two misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief with property damage.
The U.S. Marshals Service public affairs officer Dominic Guadagnoli said the charges against Cash stem from allegations concerning his activity on Dec. 23 at a family Christmas party.
A second victim was then allegedly strangled by Cash and a fight ensued outside, the release said. After that, Cash purportedly kicked in a back door and went to a car where the second victim's 6-year-old daughter was inside and started punching and breaking the windshield. The victim once again tried to stop Cash who reportedly grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground.
“We were told that he assaulted his father, Barney, during the incident,” Lambert said. “It is also our understanding that there were minors injured or involved as well. What we were told is that he just somehow snapped while opening presents with his family. He went outside with a ball bat and beat on a car. The violence of the situation is why the U.S. Marshal's office was involved in this case.”
Members of the Flomaton Police Department, the U.S. Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force and members of the Escambia County Sheriff's office arrested cash without incident. He was being held at the Escambia County Detention Center pending an extradition hearing. He is facing possible extradition to Escambia County, Fla., to face the charges against him.