MOUNTAINBURG (KFSM) – Former Mountainburg Mayor Ralph Bryant remained in critical condition Wednesday, a day after police say his teenage son beat him with an ax handle.
Mountainburg emergency crews responded Tuesday to the 900 block of Cedar Street in reference to an injury. Bryant, former mayor and police chief for the city, was flown to Washington Regional Medical Center in serious condition, with multiple lacerations and a broken eye socket, a family member told 5NEWS.
Police on Wednesday said Bryant was in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Mountainburg police said they took Bryant’s 17-year-old son into custody on suspicion of beating Bryant with an ax handle. He is being held in the Yell County Juvenile Detention Center, police said.
Police said he is facing an attempted murder charge.
"He was struck in the head multiple times," Mountainburg Officer Andrew McIntosh said. "He had been hit with an ax handle."
5NEWS spoke with a woman who said she knows the teen well.
"It`s crazy," said Pam Karsten. "It`s sad it's just really sad. "He`s sweet he`s always been a sweet kid when I`ve been around him."
Stay with 5NEWS for more on this developing story.