Man arrested for allegedly assaulting his father with brass knuckles

A local man was arrested Thursday on a warrant for aggravated assault. He is accused of attacking his 64-year-old father last month, striking him once in the head with brass knuckles.

Nathan Renard Willis, 33, of Grove Street, was arrested shortly after 2 p.m. in the 400 block of Freeman Street and charged with second-degree domestic violence, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Willis was held on bail and was scheduled to appear in Garland County District Court on Friday. According to court records, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 for aggravated robbery. On May 17, 2018, he was sentenced to six months probation and 90 days in jail for third-degree domestic violence.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Willis’ father came to the Hot Springs Police Department around 12:30 p.m. on May 26 to report an assault that had occurred earlier that morning.

He told officers he was at his Grove Street home when his son, identified as Willis, came up to him and accused him of stealing from him. An argument broke out between the two men and Willis allegedly punched him in the face.

Willis then allegedly began to hit him in the face with his knee, causing his nose and lip to “swell and bleed.” When the father tried to defend himself, Willis allegedly pulled out brass knuckles and hit him on the head, causing “a large cut.”

Willis left the scene a short time later and the victim was able to ride his bicycle to the police station to get help. Officers on scene took photos of the victim’s injuries, which they said were “consistent with his statement.”

Because the victim was 64 years old and over 60 years old, which his son knew, the level of assault was increased. An arrest warrant was issued for Willis on Tuesday.