CRAWFORD COUNTY (KFSM) – The Mountainburg teen accused of beating his ex-mayor father with an ax handle appeared in court Friday morning and had his bond set at $20,000, according to the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.
Randy Bryant, 17, remains in the Yell County Juvenile Detention Center in Danville and may be charged in the near future with attempted murder. He appeared Friday morning in Crawford County Circuit Court. Bryant’s arraignment is set for March 11, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Bryant was arrested after Mountainburg police said he beat his father, former mayor and police chief Ralph Bryant, with an ax handle Tuesday. Mountainburg emergency crews responded around noon to the 900 block of Cedar Street, and the elder Bryant was flown to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville in critical condition, a family member told 5NEWS.
Ralph Bryant suffered multiple lacerations and a broken eye socket. He was in critical but stable condition following surgery on Wednesday.
“He was struck in the head multiple times,” Mountainburg Officer Andrew McIntosh said.
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.”
