A Lawrence County man was arrested after allegedly attacking a deputy's wife during a home invasion.
Atephen Purcell Jr. was arrested Thursday evening. The woman was home alone when he allegedly broke in and confronted her.
Reports state he then assaulted her with a knife, but she fought back and was able to escape.
Purcell got away in a vehicle owned by the officer. Deputies later found him and booked him into the Lawrence County Jail.
He was charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated rape, attempted first degree murder, especially aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.
He was released this week on a series of indictments stemming from a 2017 indictment.
Lawrence County District Attorney Brent Cooper plans to recuse himself from the case because someone in his office is connected to a relative of the suspect. Williamson County DA Kim Helper’s office will then take the lead.
