A Fayetteville man was arrested Jan. 22 on family violence and other charges in an incident at his home involving his girlfriend and mother.

Tristom Collins Echols, 28, was charged with simple battery, obstruction of a person making an emergency call and cruelty to children, said Fayetteville Police spokesperson Steve Crawshaw.

Officers were dispatched to the residence occupied by Echols, his girlfriend and her three children and his mother. Speaking with Echols’ mother, officers were told he and his girlfriend got into an argument, Crawshaw said. Echols was reported to have been drinking, he said.

The girlfriend tried to stop the argument by going upstairs. Echols followed, pushing his mother and not allowing the girlfriend out of the bedroom, said Crawshaw. The girlfriend tried to dial 911 but Echols grabbed the phone from her, throwing it across the room and breaking it, Crawshaw said.

Police were summoned after one of the children followed her mother’s instruction to call police from another phone. Echols left the house once officers were called, said Crawshaw.

Once on the scene, officers contacted Echols. He returned to the residence and admitted arguing, throwing the phone and lightly pushing his mother, Crawshaw said. Echols was charged with cruelty to children because a minor was present during the incident, said Crawshaw.

In another Jan. 22 incident, 30-year-old Fayetteville resident Slamwit T. Mekonnen was arrested on charges of speeding, giving a false name and possession of a synthetic drug, Crawshaw said.

Mekonnen was initially stopped for speeding on Ga. Highway 314 at approximately 2:41 a.m., Crawshaw said. While searching for her license but being unable to find it, the officer thought he saw her tuck something in an area by the driver’s seat, said Crawshaw. Unable to produce the license, she gave the officer her name and date of birth. The officer checked the information and learned that the name given was associated with a possible alias. It was subsequently determined that Mekonnen’s license had been suspended.

Searching the vehicle after the arrest, the officer found a tablet of suspected Ecstasy, Crawshaw said.

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