Jail records show Effingham County-raised country music singer William Matthew "Billy" Currington was booked into the Chatham County jail Thursday.
Currington, 39, was booked about 5 p.m. after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest by Chatham County Superior Court Judge Penny Freesemann on Wednesday following the singer's indictment on charges of making terroristic threats and elder abuse.
SLIDESHOW: Billy Currington over the years.
VIEW: Currington's incident report from police.
On April 15, read the indictment, Currington made the threats against 70-year-old Tybee Island resident Charles Harvey Ferrelle “with the purpose of terrorizing” him.
According to a Savannah-Chatham police report, Ferrelle, who was identified as a charter boat captain, told officers he had two paying fares on board for a tour about 1 p.m. April 15 when a man began screaming at them from 159 San Marco Drive.
Currington owns a home at that address in a gated community near Tybee Island.
When Ferrelle came back by the property, the same man followed him to AJ’s, a dockside restaurant, got out of his boat and threatened to harm him, Marine Patrol Officer Daniel Walker reported.
The following day, Ferrelle told police he “feared for his life” because of the incident and that he would have to pass the property again the next day.
Ferrelle also told Walker he did not know why the suspect was “yelling threats and profanity” at him, but that “If I hadn’t gotten into my slip fast enough I believe he (Currington) would have run me over,” the report said.
Walker also reported he was told by Julie Muscleman on April 16 that she was the caretaker for an elderly man at the San Marco Drive address who, on April 15 “while on his dock,” was almost knocked into the water when a boat went by.
On April 17, Currington went to his Twitter account and said: “harrassing artists often at their home by boat should be illegal. thas all i know. (sic)” He does not say if he is addressing the April 15 incident.
But Currington did address that incident Wednesday, when he tweeted: “hey guys, I wanted to thank everyone for the huge amount of support that I have received already. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on this situation as this is an ongoing legal matter. It means a lot to me to have your support during this time”
According to the Grammy nominated artist’s website, Currington’s top 10 hits include “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and “People Are Crazy.”