Gainesville woman faces assault charges after alleged drunken fight


Misty Watson. Courtesy of Ozark County Jail.

A warrant with a $2,500 cash-only bond has been issued in a case against 40-year-old Gainesville resident Misty Watson in connection with assault and property damage charges that were filed against her Dec. 8. The charges stem from allegations that Watson threw several beer bottles at another woman during a fight, and later that she allegedly broke out the windows and scratched the paint on a vehicle located on the property. 

According to the probable cause statement prepared by Ozark County Deputy Justin Urich, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 3:41 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, reporting a disturbance at a Tecumseh store. The reporting party hung up the phone before the dispatcher could get further information, the statement says. 

Urich and Deputy Kyle Hannaford responded to the Tecumseh store area, and upon arriving, the officers were motioned toward the apartment area next to the store.  A red SUV was parked at an apartment, and the back window was broken out. A witness on scene escorted the officers into the apartment to speak with Amanda Forrest, who was sitting on the couch, bleeding from her forehead. Urich called for an ambulance after seeing Forrest’s condition.

Forrest reportedly told the officer that she and Watson had been drinking together that night, and during the course of an argument, Watson “freaked out” and began slinging beer bottles at Forrest’s head. One of the bottles hit the woman in the face, causing a gash on her forehead.

While waiting for the ambulance, the witness said the two women had shown up at his apartment that evening. He said he knew Watson but had never met Forrest, the statement says. He said the two women began fighting then Watson started throwing glass bottles at the other woman’s head. The witness said he had to pull Watson off Forrest, and he told her to leave.

Watson began to leave but then ran back through the door and began kicking and stomping Forrest, who was lying on the floor, the statement says. The witness broke up the fight again, and Watson reportedly left the residence, taking a knife that belonged to the witness, he told officers.

The vehicle in the driveway had a broken rear window and broken windshield. Scuff marks were found on the driver’s window, which looked like it had been struck with a hard object, the deputy wrote in the report.  Deep scratches were also seen on the passenger side of the SUV that may or may not have been related to the incident, the report says. Urich wrote that he found a rock in a blue barrel in the back of the vehicle that was used to damage the vehicle. 

Information on Watson’s arraignment was not yet available through online court records at presstime Tuesday.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423