An Umatilla woman who had been drinking all day Tuesday was arrested after she allegedly went after a man with a rock in her hand and tried to hit him in the head with it.
Megan Marie Clay, 35, was charged with simple battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after the incident. The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy he and Clay have been living together for two weeks, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said Clay, who had been drinking all day, entered the residence with a softball-sized rock in her hand and said it was a “fossil.” He said they started arguing about her alcohol consumption and she got upset and ran towards him in an aggressive manner with the rock in her left fist, the report said.
The victim said Clay got within arm’s reach of him and started trying to hit him in the head with the concrete block. He said he felt in fear for his life and he grabbed Clay’s arm and took the rock out of her hand before she was able to hit him with it, according to the report.
The victim said he then walked outside with the rock and threw it across the yard to keep Clay from retrieving it. He said as he walked outside, Clay followed him and started punching him on the arm with a closed fist. The victim said that’s when he called 911 and left the residence, the report said.
A witness said she was outside the residence and heard Clay yelling, “I’m going to kill you,” at the victim from inside. She said she saw the victim walk out of the home and throw the rock to the other side of the yard. The witness said Clay followed the victim out and started punching and slapping him somewhere on the upper half of his body, but she was unable to determine exactly where she was hitting him, according to the report.
Clay appeared very intoxicated when she talked with the deputy. She said the dispute was verbal and never got physical. When asked about the rock, she said there was a pink rock with the word “Shorty” painted on it that was already inside the residence, the report said.
Clay said she did not try to hit the victim with the rock but she did throw it across the living room towards the door. Clay was unable to stay on topic with the deputy during the interview and would frequently ask unrelated questions, according to the report.
The deputy spoke again with Clay, who changed her initial story and said she threw the rock across the yard instead of in the house. The deputy observed the pink rock with the word “Shorty” painted on it positioned with other rocks on the walkway leading to the front door. The rock did not appear to have been moved from its position, the report said.
After being read her Miranda warning, Clay invoked her right not to say anything else. She was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she will appear in Marion County Court on March 30.