Man backs official into corner with cane

VERNON - Washington County District 4 Commissioner Donnie Ray Strickland keeps an office in the Vernon City Hall to help constituents. He never expected one to attack him there, but that's what happened Tuesday, according to sheriff's deputies.

"I never would have thought anything like that would happen at the City Hall," a shaken Strickland said Tuesday.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office charged Horace Anderson, 52, with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Tuesday after Anderson reportedly was captured on video swinging and jabbing his cane at Strickland in his office.
The video has not been released to the public.

Strickland said he had an altercation with Anderson about three months ago on an issue unrelated to city business, but Tuesday's action still was a surprise to him.

"I never had anybody swing a club at me," Strickland said.

Strickland said Anderson came to his office just before 11 a.m. "and started raising sand." Anderson reportedly swung his cane at Strickland, who blocked the attack with his arm as his assailant backed him into a corner, jabbing athimwith the cane. Strickland said he tried to reach for his phone, but Anderson knocked it out of his hand.

"It's a good thing it wasn't another 6 inches long, or he would have gotten me," Stricldand said of the cane.

The entire incident took 32 seconds, according to investigators, with Anderson shouting "I'm gonna get you!" as he left.

Law enforcement arrived a few minutes later. After checking the video and interviewing Strickland, they found Anderson and took him to the county jail in Chipley.

Vernon City Clerk Sherry Cobb said the city also tookout a trespassing warning against Anderson.