Gumercindo Reyes, 54, was arrested at his home on Chateau Court early Monday morning after he cut a television cable because his wife was watching TV while he was trying to sleep, Athens-Clarke County police said.
The wife’s late-night TV viewing habits reportedly had been an issue in the couple’s relationship and they were having an ongoing disagreement on whether they should continue having cable service.
Reyes was the one who called 911 about the dispute and told a responding officer he did not believe it was illegal to damage something that he paid for, referring to the cable, which he cut with a pocketknife. According to police, the officer informed Reyes that as a married couple, he and his wife had “common use” of the TV.
Reyes was arrested and charged under the state Family Violence Act with criminal trespass/damage to property.