Charges filed in a family altercation

Two family members, a man and his nephew, are facing charges in Woods County after an altercation.

According to court documents, On March 4 about 10:59 a.m. Woods County Sheriff’s Deputy David Cummings was dispatched to the area of County Road 390 (CR 390) in response to an assault by motor vehicle report. Michael McCracken reported his son, Cade McCracken, sustained injuries after being run off the road while on a four-wheeler by Cade’s uncle, Bradley McCracken. Michael further reported another incident took place after the vehicle assault at Cade’s grandparents’ residence where a threat was made with a knife between Bradley and Cade.

Cummings arrived in the area and made contact with Cade and had him sit in the patrol car while audio and video recordings were activated. Cade explained he was watering cattle in the family’s pasture on his Honda four-wheeler. He said he saw his grandpa’s red GMC pickup coming down the road toward him. He knew Bradley typically drives the pickup due to his grandpa Butch’s health conditions. As Cade neared the pickup, he said Bradley swerved at him. Bradley continued on in the field and turned around, beginning to drive toward the exit onto CR 390.

Again Cade began to approach the vehicle. Deputy Cummings asked why he continued to approach the pickup, and Cade said he wanted to see what the problem was. Both vehicles got onto CR 390 traveling north. Cade pulled alongside the driver side of the pickup, again saying he wanted to know what the problem was. At this point, Cade said Bradley swerved at him to the left, causing both the four-wheeler and the pickup to go into the ditch. No contact was made.

After this Cade stopped and called his dad Michael and told him about the incident. Cade then went to his grandparents’ residence to let them know what happened. He said he did not see Bradley’s vehicle there so thought he was gone. When he walked into the residence Bradley was there and an argument ensued over Bradley swerving at him. Cummings asked if there was a physical altercation, and Cade denied anything physical happened.

Cade did not tell Cummings of the knife his father had reported in the initial call. Cummings asked if a knife was ever involved. Cade reported that Bradley pulled a knife out of his pocket and opened the blade causing him to feel threatened. Cade described the knife as a box cutting utility knife. He said he was shaken up and forgot to tell Cummings about it.

Cummings went to the barn where Cade had left the four-wheeler and photographed it. Cade showed him where the swerving incident occurred, and Cummings checked the tire tracks which he photographed.

According to Butch and Carol McCracken, Cade’s grandparents, Bradley had been taking care of things on the family property in a red GMC feed pickup. When Bradley returned, Cade came in and an argument ensued. Carol said Cade was accusing Bradley of trying to run him off the roadway, which Bradley denied doing. Cummings asked if a knife was involved, and Carol said Bradley removed one from his pocket and began to hand it to Cade. She did not think the blade was open but was unsure. Cummings asked if any threats were made, and she said no other than Bradley telling Cade to cut his throat if he wanted to. Cummings also viewed the red pickup in the barn and photographed it.

Cummings then went to Noble Road to speak with Bradley at his residence. Bradley sat in the patrol car with audio and video recording activated. In a post Miranda interview, Bradley said he was in the red GMC pickup belonging to his dad, Butch, taking care of things on the family property. Cade approached him on a four-wheeler. He said Cade began yelling at him and attempting to argue and block him in. Cummings asked if he swerved at Cade at any time in the field, and Bradley said no.

Bradley said after departing the field, he turned north onto CR 390 with Cade pulling alongside him. Bradley said he was driving north in the southbound lane of traffic with Cade on his left side near the ditch. Bradley said that he “wobbled” his pickup over toward Cade on the four-wheeler. When asked to clarify the meaning of “wobbled”, Bradley said he swerved left toward Cade. Cummings asked if he departed the road at any time, and Bradley said he didn’t think so but was unsure. Cummings asked his intent in swerving toward Cade, and Bradley said it was to scare him and slow him down. Asked how fast he was driving, Bradley estimated 25 mph when he swerved. After this Cade stopped while Bradley returned to his parent’s residence to drop off the feed truck and to speak with them.

Bradley reported that Cade came by, and an argument ensued. Bradley said during the argument, Cade pushed him a couple of times, slapped him and knocked his hat off. Bradley said he learned in anger management to keep his arms crossed during such instances and to let happen whatever happens. According to Bradley, anger management course were a recommendation following another family dispute between his and his brother Mike’s family. Bradley said he did not touch Cade physically.

Deputy Cummings asked about the knife, and Bradley said Cade was threatening to cut his throat and let him bleed out in the house. So Bradley pulled his knife from his pocket and attempted to hand it ot Cade, telling him to do it. Sometime after this, Bradley says he left and returned home to work. Bradley advised of the ongoing issue with his brother’s family which causes him to feel constantly harassed and which he tries to ignore.

Deputy Cummings advised Bradley he would be placing him under arrest for assault with a dangerous weapon, the weapon being the vehicle. Cummings removed a foldable clip utility knife from Bradley’s person.

After talking to some other witnesses in the case, on March 8 Cummings interviewed Cade after he was read his Miranda rights and waived having an attorney present. Cummings explained he was looking into the assault that Bradley had reported to him as well as his conclusion that Cade had committed a breach of peace by continuing to pursue Bradley while on his four-wheeler.

Cade denied ever slapping Bradley and said he might have knocked Bradley’s ball cap off as he turned to leave the residence. Cummings asked if there was any shoving, and Cade said he might have shoved Bradley after he presented his knife. Cummings asked if he shoved him or not. Cade said he was sure he did shove him, but that was as he was leaving the residence after Bradley had presented the knife.

Cummings’ affidavits in the cases states that since 2021 the Woods County Sheriff’s Office has been responding to domestic situations between members of the McCracken family, all of whom reside within a few miles of each other with both parties having responsible duties in the family business. Both parties advise contact is avoided but happens, typically resulting in law enforcement response. There appears to be an ongoing issue between family, resulting in further escalation today (March 4).

On March 20, Bradley Lee McCracken, 63, Alva, has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years in the penitentiary or one year in the county jail.

Bradley McCracken is also charged with trespassing after being forbidden, a misdemeanor, for entering property belonging to his brother Michael. Bradley had been given a formal no trespass order by the Woods County Sheriff’s office in 2021. The trespassing charge is punishable by a fine of $50 to $500, or by confinement in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months, or by such fine and imprisonment.

Cade Michael McCracken, 19, of Alva, has been charged with domestic abuse – assault and battery and with breach of peace, both misdemeanors. The first count is punishable by imprisonment up to one year or a fine of $5,000 or both. The second is punishable by a fine of up to $100 or imprisonment for up to 30 days or both.