Athens man charged with attempted murder after striking bicyclist

Published 3:28 pm Friday, March 2, 2018

An Athens man has been charged with attempted murder because police say he intentionally struck someone riding a bike with his vehicle.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said Athens-Limestone Hospital contacted his department Monday about a man who had sought treatment in the emergency room after being struck by a vehicle. The man told hospital workers he was riding his bike on Hine Street when he was struck. He also said he believed he was hit intentionally by a man he was in an altercation with last week.

Johnson said the victim was sedated before investigators could talk to him and was flown to Huntsville Hospital via MedFlight.

On Tuesday, the victim came to the Athens Police Department and talked with investigators about the incident. He also gave police the name of the man he had been in the altercation with — Ronnie Lee Pylant Jr., 30, of 18194 McMunn Lane, Athens.

Investigators interviewed Pylant Friday, and Pylant confirmed he had been in an altercation with the victim but did not say what it was about.

“Pylant told investigators he saw the victim on Hines Street and intentionally him with the vehicle he was driving,” Johnson said.

Following the interview, Pylant was arrested on a charge of attempted murder. After being booked at the police department, he was taken to the Limestone County Jail. Bond had not been set as of Friday.