A Jefferson man faces a felony charge for abuse.

Police Chief Dave Morlan says 39 year-old Russell Lee Gardner is charged with a Class D Felony for his third offense for domestic abuse assault and a misdemeanor for obstructing emergency communications.

Morlan says at 12:04pm on Tuesday, January 27th, Greene County Dispatch received two abandoned 911 calls.  When dispatch called the number back, a female’s voice appeared to be crying.  The call was traced to the 400 block of Russell Street.

Morlan states when an officer arrived on scene, the accused left the residence and the female victim had a cut on the inside of her swollen lip.  The officer determined an alleged domestic disturbance had taken place.  The victim told the officer that Gardner threw her cellphone to keep her from calling police.  A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Morlan tells Raccoon Valley Radio that on Wednesday, officers were notified of Gardner’s location in the 100 block of West State Street.  The suspect was arrested and was booked into the Greene County Jail.  He has since been released.

Online court records show that Gardner has been convicted twice of domestic abuse assault.