25-year-old Dratavius Pondexter was charged with domestic assault after his mother reported that he pushed her and tried to cut her with a knife when she would not give him money for cigarettes.
On December 4th, Memphis Police Officers Palmer and Cordova responded to a wounding call at the residence of Dratavius Pondexter at 3387 Ford Road. Upon arrival, Shirley Pondexter advised that she and her son, Dratavius, got into an argument over money. She stated he repeatedly demanded money for cigarettes but when she refused, he pushed her while she was on the couch.
He then tried to get the money out of her pocket himself but she said she was able to keep it away from him. According to the affidavit, he went into the kitchen since she would not give him the money and picked up a knife. Shirley followed him and proceeded to cut Dratavius with another kitchen knife to protect herself and to prevent him from doing anything with the knife.
Shirley told the police that her son was intoxicated and the officers noted a cut on his hand. She also informed the police that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia.
On December 5th, Dratavius Pondexter was arrested and charged with domestic assault. He was released on a $1,000 bond.
