HURRICANE, Utah — A man was arrested late Sunday night following a violent confrontation at a home in Hurricane. Tony Britt Ballard, 41, is facing multiple charges, including assault, domestic violence, and the use of a dangerous weapon after a family argument turned violent.
The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. when an officer from the Hurricane Police Department was dispatched to a home on West Palomar for a reported family disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer learned that a family member had been involved in a heated argument with Ballard. According to the police affidavit, the disagreement began when Ballard allegedly spat a fingernail at a family member’s face, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
Witnesses told officers that Ballard, apparently angered by the argument, pulled out a handgun and threatened to “blow someone’s brain if they came at him.” At the time of the altercation, several adult family members were present, all of whom had been drinking, according to the affidavit.
As tensions escalated, Ballard allegedly ordered a man to leave the residence. When the man refused, Ballard reportedly tried to push him out the door. The situation grew more physical when the man struck Ballard in the face. In the ensuing struggle, Ballard ended up on his back, with several family members reportedly sitting on him and hitting him.
The responding officer determined that Ballard was the primary aggressor in the altercation and placed him under arrest. He was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance before being taken to the Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Ballard now faces several charges, including threat/use of a dangerous weapon in a fight (a class A misdemeanor), propel bodily substance contacting face or open wound (a class A misdemeanor), threat of violence (a class B misdemeanor), assault (a class B misdemeanor), and six counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child (class B misdemeanors).
Authorities have not released further details regarding the condition of the other individuals involved in the altercation. The case remains under investigation.