Henry County authorities are awaiting the return from South Carolina of a man suspected of beating his mother-in-law with a frying pan and holding her, his wife and son at gunpoint.
The incident began around 7 p.m. Tuesday when Michael S. Payne burglarized the home of his mother-in-law in McDonough, said Major Jason Bolton, Henry County police spokesman. Payne hit his mother-in-law several times in the head and face with a frying pan, Bolton said, then duct-taped her mouth, tied her up and handcuffed her.
A short time later, Payne's wife and son arrived at the residence. Payne produced a pistol, pointed it at them and held them at the home for several hours before the wife persuaded Payne to let her mother go, Bolton said. He left a short time later.
Payne, 36, was arrested Wednesday as he slept in his car at a rest stop on I-20 near North Augusta, S.C., where authorities had tracked his cell phone signal. After initially refusing to surrender, police smashed the driver's side window and arrested him.
Payne was being held in the Aiken County detention center, awaiting extradition to Henry County. He is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, false imprisonment and burglary, Bolton said.
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