Seven assault counts stem from cigarette denial, Duncan police say

DUNCAN — A 23-year-old Stephens County man with a history of schizophrenia is in jail after he was accused of attacking his 66-year-old father because he wouldn’t give his son a cigarette.

Police said when they arrived to defuse the situation, they were greeted by the knife-wielding younger man who’s now accused of seven counts of assault.

Gradon Lee Bynum made his initial appearance Monday in Stephens County District Court where he received five felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony charge of assault and battery on a police officer and misdemeanor count of domestic abuse — assault and battery, records indicate.

Duncan police were called shortly before 2 a.m. Monday to the Greens Apartments, 421 South 27th, regarding a domestic violence incident between son and father. The father said Bynum came into his room asking for a cigarette and when he told him he rolled his own, he said, the son became upset and assaulted him, the probable cause affidavit states. He said his son has a history of schizophrenia. The father had bleeding from his left forearm, elbow and the bridge of his nose.

Four officers tried to contact Bynum. When Bynum opened the apartment door and was asked to step outside, he said no, took a step back and pulled a knife from his pocket, the affidavit states. He was held at gunpoint and told to drop the knife. Officer Davin Sanchez stated Bynum replied, “do it, shoot me.”

Police responded with Tasers that struck his head and torso and he dropped the knife, according to the affidavit. Bynum picked the knife up and was pepper sprayed before placing the knife on the ground and coming toward police, Sanchez stated.

An officer tried to keep Bynum separated from the knife and was greeted by Bynum grabbing his face before being pushed off him, the affidavit states. He was eventually taken to the ground and handcuffed.

Held on bond with the order to have no contact with his father, Bynum returns to court at 9 a.m. March 13, 2024, for his preliminary hearing conference, records indicate.