Two elderly Cocke County men were both charged in connection with an assault that happened during recent flash flooding in Parrottsville Thursday.

According to information from the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, a member of the Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department had a revolver aimed at him. Deputies went to West Drive in Parrottsville where firefighter Justin Gilbert reported having a revolver aimed at him where two elderly men, identified as Fred Michael Tranthem, 73, and William Edward Morgan, Jr., 68, were. When deputies asked Morgan where the revolver was, Morgan said that the gun was on a yellow cord under the carport.

Both Tranthem and Morgan were yelling and causing a disturbance. After Morgan attempted to go to the gun, Cocke County Deputy Ethan Valentine secured the gun.

During Valentine’s interview with Gilbert, Gilbert said that he was assisting with the flash flooding at West Drive.

Gilbert said that Tranthem and Morgan came outside yelling at him for trying to turn in the yard.

Tranthem allegedly started to try to aggressively open Gilbert’s vehicle door aggressively.

While Gilbert was able to keep the door closed, Tranthem tried to pry the door open to remove Gilbert from the vehicle, resulting in Tranthem “headbutting” Gilbert’s vehicle.

While Gilbert dealt with Tranthem, Morgan allegedly aimed the revolver which placed him “in fear” of his life. Gilbert allegedly threw an Under Armor water bottle to create distance from them.

Tranthem allegedly created a crease mark and a head-butt mark on Gilbert’s vehicle.

Shocked by the men’s actions Gilbert called Central Dispatch and sat there until arrival of deputies.

As Valentine tried to get statements from both Tranthem and Morgan, both men said that they were trying to advise Gilbert not to go through the grass. Both men thought that Gilbert had a weapon, so both men attempted to retrieve the revolver, which they said they displayed to protect their property and didn’t want to be damaged. Both men’s behavior became worse over the interaction and both became non-compliant.

Tranthem was arrested after approaching a deputy aggressively. Morgan was charged with Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon.

Both men were placed into custody.