Denton police are sorting out the stories of two men about what caused one of them to hit the other with a hammer.
The first man called 911 about 10 a.m. Monday to report that he had been attacked with a hammer. He said he was helping a friend move her belongings away from outside the door of an apartment in the 2400 block of Old North Road. Her former husband had placed her belongings there, according to a police report.
He said as he was moving the property, the door opened and the woman's former husband came out swinging the hammer. The man said he was hit twice - once on the arm and once on the hand - as he attempted to protect himself. The only obvious injury was a small scratch on his hand, according to the report.
The second man then opened the apartment door and told police his side of the story. He said he and a woman were asleep when they were awakened by loud banging noises and yelling outside the door. He said he opened the door, first picking up a hammer he kept on a table beside the door.
He said the first man was yelling and cursing at him and trying to hit him, so he used the hammer in self-defense. He then also called 911, he said.
An investigation is continuing.
 
Other reports
1200 block of Canvasback Drive, unincorporated Denton County - A woman told sheriff's deputies that a stranger came into her yard and slashed tires on three vehicles parked there.
She said several people were outdoors a little before midnight Saturday when a man they didn't know walked up the driveway and asked for a cigarette. She said he was told he could not have a cigarette and that he should leave the property. He replied that he knew where she lived and he was going home for his assault rifle, according to the report.
He walked away and they went inside to watch a New Year's celebration on television. Afterward, they walked back outside and saw the damage to the tires. The stranger was hiding near one of the cars, and one of the guests at the house chased him.
1100 block of Oakcrest Drive, Providence area - A woman reported that while her daughter visited a friend, the friend's mother called a tattoo artist who came over and gave her daughter a tattoo.
The girl came home with a tattoo on her left calf depicting a cross with the words "Only God can judge me," according to the report. She said she told the other woman that her mother would not approve and was told to hide the tattoo from her mother.
The mother wants to press charges against the other woman for giving an underage person a tattoo without permission from a parent.
Roundup
From 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday:
• Denton police handled 374 service and officer-initiated calls, including two assaults, one domestic disturbance, two burglaries, one report of harassment, one threat and two thefts.
• Denton firefighters responded to 12 medical calls, one alarm, one traffic accident and one request for public service.
From 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Tuesday:
• Denton County sheriff's dispatchers handled 2,365 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. A total of 105 people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of one tattoo to a prohibited person, two burglaries, five thefts and one criminal mischief.
Argyle firefighters responded to one alarm, five medical calls, four grass fires, three structure fires, two unknown-type fires, one odor investigation, one overdose and one traffic accident.
Aubrey firefighters responded to one alarm, two traffic accidents, one request to unlock a vehicle, eight medical calls, three grass fires, one smoke investigation, two structure fires, one unknown-type fire, one odor investigation, one overdose and one suicide attempt.
Double Oak firefighters responded to one medical call, two grass fires, one structure fire and one unknown-type fire.
Krum firefighters responded to 12 medical calls, one controlled burn, one grass fire, one illegal burn, one structure fire, one unknown-type fire and four accidents.
Lake Cities firefighters responded to one alarm, one childbirth, one suicide attempt, four traffic accidents, one request to unlock a vehicle, 17 medical calls, one hazardous materials incident, two requests to assist a citizen, three grass fires, one illegal burn, one smoke investigation and two structure fires.
Oak Point firefighters responded to three medical calls, one grass fire and one smoke investigation.
Ponder firefighters responded to two medical calls, one request to assist a citizen, two grass fires, one structure fire, one unknown-type fire and one request to unlock a vehicle.
Pilot Point firefighters responded to two medical calls, three grass fires, two structure fires, one unknown-type fire and three traffic accidents.
Sanger firefighters responded to nine medical calls, one request to unlock a vehicle, one water main break, two grass fires, two structure fires, one unknown-type fire and one childbirth.
DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .
Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.
