PANAMA CITY — A man who allegedly hit his wife over the head with a hammer and continued to pummel her face with his hands has been rearrested after not showing up to enter a plea in court, according to court documents.
Willie Frank Simmons, 59, posted a $25,000 bond after being arrested on aggravated battery charges after he attacked his wife with a hammer and then his fists. He was arrested May 10, released after posting bond and is now back in custody after missing a court date without a chance of bonding out again, court documents indicated.
According to Panama City police reports, officers were called to an area of 2610 Hwy 77 by witnesses. Simmons and his wife were in a vehicle on the side of the road and were still arguing when the officer walked up, police said.
The victim did not have visible injuries, but she said Simmons attacked her, hitting her on the head with the hammer, while they were stopped in traffic. He continued to hit her in the face and chest afterward, according to police reports.
She went on to tell the officer Simmons becomes violent when he is intoxicated, and that he was intoxicated. Police found a silver hammer in the passenger floorboard and took it as evidence when Simmons was taken to jail.
Simmons posted the $25,000 bond in July and was scheduled for a plea date on Oct. 6. But extenuating circumstances prevented him from appearing, according to his attorney.
In a letter, assistant public defender F.R. Mann Jr. requested Simmons’ bond violation be set aside.
Simmons “suffered some type of psychotic episode the Saturday before the Monday he was supposed to be in court,” said Mann, including that Simmons’ wife took him to the VA hospital for medical treatment that day. “He is currently taking his Risperdal and ready to return to court.”
Simmons was rearrested Monday and surrendered the previous bond he posted. He is now being held without bond.