Tri-City woman accused of using sledgehammer in fight. The other grabbed an ax

A 35-year-old woman is accused of attacking another woman with a sledgehammer in an argument in front of a Pasco home in February.

Cynthia E. Anderson, of Kennewick, ended up with a head wound when the woman she allegedly attacked defended herself with an ax.

Anderson was summoned to Franklin County Superior Court this week after being charged with second-degree assault and second-degree malicious mischief.

Details are sparse about what started the argument between Anderson and Jessica Collins, 36, outside a home on 26th Avenue on Feb. 21 at about 4:50 a.m.

Anderson responded by grabbing a sledgehammer from her car and allegedly swinging it at Collins. It slammed into the wall near the door, breaking off a piece of concrete, court documents said.

Police said that the force was enough to have caused substantial injuries if Collins had been hit by the hammer, court documents said.

The woman responded by swinging an ax at Anderson and hitting her in the head, court documents said. Collins said she swung the ax because “she was ‘scared’ and was using ‘self-defense,’” court documents said.

The two women began fighting over the weapons.

After the exchange, Anderson allegedly used the sledgehammer to smash in the window and hood of the victim’s sister’s car.

Anderson was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center after police arrived.