Man allegedly became violent when asked to share his eggnog

An Upper East Tennessee man who was allegedly driven to violence by an unwelcome request to share his eggnog on Sunday evening is to appear in Hawkins County Sessions Court charged with two counts of domestic assault. Dennis Joseph Saxe, 45, of Mount Carmel, has been held in the Hawkins County Jail without bond since his arrest on Monday morning. At around 6:23pm Police Department Officer Luke Jarnigan was dispatched to Saxe's residence which he shares with his girlfriend Christina Wyant.

Wyant told Jarnigan that Saxe became violent when her teenage daughter asked for a glass of his eggnog. "Mr. Saxe got mad and punched a hole in the wall, screaming at (the daughter) for wanting some eggnog," Jarnigan said. "Christina stated she told Saxe to stop, and that it was just eggnog. (The daughter) stated she went into the living room and told Saxe that if he did not want her to have the eggnog, she wouldn't get any."



Saxe then allegedly ran up to the daughter, "got in her face," and started screaming at her. Wyant reportedly tried to get Saxe to stop, at which time Saxe allegedly pushed her down onto a couch. When Wyant got back up, Saxe allegedly began choking her. "Christina stated that at some point they all ended up on the floor, and Christina was yelling for Saxe to stop because he had his arms around (the daughter)," Jarnigan said. "Saxe stood up to punch Christina, and (the daughter's boyfriend) pushed Saxe onto the couch."

The daughter then called 911, and Saxe left the residence. MCPD Officer Cody Bussell arrested Saxe on Jarnigan's warrant for two counts of domestic assault after Saxe returned to his home. Jarnigan said there was no indication that anyone in the household was under the influence at the time of the alleged assaults, nor was the incident preceded by any other arguments or altercations. "Based on the witness accounts, she (Wyant's daughter) asked for a glass of eggnog, and he (Saxe) went off," Jarnigan said. "He didn't want to share his eggnog."