Jail Time for Lake City Man Who Struck Woman in Head With Hammer

LAKE CITY, Ark. — A man who was arrested after authorities said he struck a woman in the head with a hammer in Lake City, leaving her injured and bleeding before she sought help in town, was sentenced to 120 days in county jail and 60 months suspended imposition of sentence on Dec. 31, 2025.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Craighead County deputies and Lake City police were dispatched Oct. 9 to a location where they found a woman with blood coming from her head. She told investigators she had gone to Justin Blake Bailey’s residence earlier that morning to wake him up for court. She said the two got into an argument. As she went to leave, Bailey allegedly threw a hammer that hit her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious and causing her head to bleed. The woman said she later walked into Lake City to get help.

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Deputies arrested Bailey at the Craighead County Courthouse in Lake City when he arrived for his court appearance.

Investigators said Bailey initially denied any knowledge of the woman’s injury but later admitted to swinging the hammer at her dog and said it accidentally struck her. He told deputies he did not intend to hurt her.

The woman was treated for her injury at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

During his first court appearance, District Judge David Boling noted Bailey’s previous cases, including two prior violations of an order of protection and a 2024 terroristic threatening charge. At the request of Prosecutor Sonia Hagood, Boling set bail at $500,000 cash or surety and ordered Bailey to wear a GPS ankle monitor if released.

Justin Blake Bailey, 37, of Lake City, faced a second-degree domestic battery charge, a Class C felony. On Wednesday, Dec. 31, Bailey pled guilty. He was sentenced to 120 days in the Craighead County Detention Center with credit for 83 days previously served. He also received 60 months suspended imposition of sentence. A no-contact order was issued for the victim for a period of 12 months. Bailey must take domestic battery and anger management classes.

“If he goes and throws a hammer at her again, he’s going to prison for ten years,” said Judge Chris Thyer in court.