Bradley County Commissioner Jeff Yarber was cited to court this week through a criminal summons issued by a man who alleged he was assaulted by Yarber June 13.

Gerald Scott Kirkland filed paperwork with Bradley County General Sessions Court.

Yarber said the allegations are unfounded and that he did not scratch Kirkland’s ear.

“The guy was harassing my wife at all hours of the day and night and continued to harass her after we both asked him to leave her alone,” Yarber said this morning. “I am confident justice will be served.”

According to the affidavit filed by Kirkland, he was driving to his residence and Yarber reportedly drove past him.

Kirkland noted Yarber “slammed on his brakes, turned his vehicle around and began following.”

Yarber reportedly followed Kirkland to his home. Kirkland had pulled into his driveway, according to his statement.

At that point, Yarber approached Kirkland and allegedly bumped Kirkland’s chest and made verbal threats.

“He then reached for and grabbed my ear and Bluetooth headset, throwing it into the neighbor’s yard and leaving cuts on the back of my ear,” wrote Kirkland.

Kirkland reportedly told Yarber to leave his property and informed him he had called 911. Yarber then left, according to the statement. Yarber returned and waited for an officer to arrive on the scene. After discussion to resolve their differences, the officer advised them to walk away without speaking to one another and according to his statement, Kirkland wrote he complied.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Kirkland went to retrieve his headset, then stated he “felt a small amount of pain, removed the headset [and saw] a small amount of blood.”

He found marks on the back of his ear “left from Mr. Yarber ripping off my headset,” said Kirkland.

Kirkland noted he and Yarber had previous verbal altercations but never physical until that date.

According to Kirkland, “The issue with me was anger over a text message I sent to his wife asking her to speak in private without Jeff’s knowing to ask her not to speak to me in public as she had a day or two before.”

Kirkland also stated in his affidavit Yarber called later that evening and he didn’t answer the call at first. He reportedly did answer a later call and told Yarber to follow the officer’s orders to the two men to go their separate ways.

Yarber is scheduled to appear in Bradley County General Sessions Court July 12.