Brian Winecoff, 50, was arrested Tuesday night following a dispute with his girlfriend at their home on Bristlecone Court in which he allegedly threatened to kill her with a hammer, Athens-Clarke County police said.
Police said they initially were called to the home on the victim’s report that Winecoff stole her car, but after they got there they learned about the alleged threat, in which Winecoff allegedly shook the hammer in the victim’s face, “at one point touching her eye with it,” while yelling he would kill her.
The victim said she ran from the home and called 911 from a neighbor’s home, according to police.
Winecoff reportedly told police then when his girlfriend went into the kitchen during the argument, he feared she went to get a weapon because “he had heard she had attacked other men before with knives or pans.”
The man explained he waited outside the kitchen with the hammer, police said, but when the woman came out without any weapons he put the hammer down. He reportedly admitted to taking the woman’s car, but returned with the vehicle because he knew she might call the police.
Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org.