WILTON — Police say a Wilton man was arrested on a charge of aggravated domestic violence assault Sunday after two adult family members were hit with a six-pound sledgehammer.

James Mathers, 53, was staying on Chandler Street, preparing to move to East Dixfield, when police were called about 7:50 p.m., police Chief Heidi Wilcox said.

He was in the process of moving out and wanted to take a dog who had just had puppies that day.  Family members didn’t want him to take the dog because she was suffering complications from the birth, Wilcox said.

Mathers grabbed the sledgehammer and said he was going to go kill the puppies and the dog, Wilcox said.

Two family members were hit with the sledgehammer, but there were no serious injuries, she said.  A phone was smashed but it was not an attempt to stop them from calling.

Mathers was under the influence of prescription drugs and was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for an evaluation before he was taken to Franklin County Detention Center, Wilcox said.

Wilton Officer Andrew Hardy made the arrest and was assisted at the scene by officers from Jay Police Department.

Bail was set Monday for Mathers, according to an officer at the Detention Center where Mathers remains Tuesday morning. The bail is personal recognizance with a Maine pre-trial contract.

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