Landlord attacked by renters

ALBANY — Five people face a variety of assault charges after attacking a man with a tire iron at his 3714 Old Mill Road home, a Dougherty County Police Department report states.

Randy Avera, 54, was injured when he was struck with the tire iron, but said he didn’t need medical assistance.

“We got a call about a disturbance at about 4 a.m. (Wednesday),” said Dougherty County Police Chief Don Cheek. “Five people tried to rip off the victim for money. He was hit in the back with a tire iron.”

A Dougherty County Jail spokeswoman said the following inmates are in jail with no bail set: Shawn Brown, 19, who is charged with aggravated assault, and Robert Lee Clay Jr., 19; Amanda Clay, 20, and Keri Sanders, 23, who are each charged with being a party to the aggravated assault.

Charges of obstructing a police officer have also been filed against Amanda Clay, Sanders and Marshay Walker, 20. Bail of $1,000 was set for each on that charge.

Sanders and Walker rented a residence from Avera. He has filed with the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office to have them evicted, he said.

“They were good until this morning when they asked to use the phone,” Avera said. “They asked to use the phone before and we had no trouble.”

This time the women weren’t alone, Avera said. He did not know the males who attacked him, he added.

“He (Brown) went out and got a tire tool and hit me on the back. I think he was swinging for my head,” Avera said. “The whole time they never said a word.”

The attack caused Avera to stumble backward and smash through a screen door, he said. That was when the group fled empty-handed, he added.