Paragould Man Accused of Assaulting Daughter with Hammer in Domestic Dispute

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man is facing a felony battery charge after allegedly assaulting his daughter with a hammer during a domestic altercation, according to an affidavit from the Paragould Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to a residence on Highway 69 South on Jan. 20, 2025, following a report of a domestic disturbance involving a hammer. Upon arrival, they encountered Jessie L. Sweaney, who admitted to being involved in an altercation with his daughter, the affidavit said. Officers observed a large amount of blood throughout the residence.

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Sweaney reportedly told officers he had consumed alcohol and used methamphetamine before the incident. He claimed his daughter jumped on his back, prompting him to strike her with a hammer. Officers noted Sweaney had “multiple red marks on the right and left sides of his neck, along with a small laceration on his left thumb.”

The daughter, whose identity was not released, was transported to a hospital, where officers documented extensive injuries. According to the affidavit, she had “an approximate one-inch-long laceration on the top of her right foot, a swelled knot on the right-middle portion of her forehead, a circular bruise on the top of her left hand resembling the head of a hammer, and multiple scratches on her forehead and fingers on her right hand.” She told officers her father attacked her with a hammer and punched her in the forehead.

A witness at the scene provided a message allegedly sent by Sweaney, which read, “Hey bitch, you might wanna get out there and get your daughter and get her to the doctor. Because I knocked a hole in the foot with a hammer.”

Jessie Sweaney, 67, of Paragould, faces a charge of Second-Degree Domestic Battering, a Class C felony. Bail was set at $15,000 cash-only by Judge Dan Stidham.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Authorities have not released further details about the daughter’s current condition.