CHRISTIANSBURG -- A preliminary hearing for a Christiansburg man accused of attempted capital murder was postponed Tuesday pending a mental evaluation.

William Shane Mattox, 30, was charged with two counts of attempted murder after from a June incident in which police say he plowed his car head-on into a police cruiser with two officers inside.

Mattox appeared before Judge Randal Duncan on Tuesday with his attorney, Christopher Tuck, who said he wanted to file a motion to have his client undergo a mental evaluation. Noting that Mattox has threatened suicide while at the Montgomery County Jail, Tuck said he is concerned about his client's mental state and his ability to assist in his own defense. After consulting with other attorneys who have represented Mattox in previous cases and talking with Mattox's minister and family, Tuck said he learned that his client has received treatment through New River Valley Community Services in the past two years and has a long history of mental health issues.

Mattox faces eight charges in the June 16 incident where he is accused of ramming the police car on Hill Street with his Subaru station wagon. In addition, he faces a third attempted murder charge for an apparent attempt to strike another man with the Subaru and an assault charge for allegedly hitting another man with his fists. Mattox also was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction, carrying a concealed weapon (a straight razor) and destruction of property for damages to the cruiser.

Prior to the June 16 incident, he had 17 outstanding warrants over tampering with vehicles at a dealership. Those charges are being heard with those from the June incident.

The judge set a court hearing for the mental evaluation report Oct. 23 and extended the preliminary hearing date to Nov. 27.

-- Donna Alvis-Banks and Shawna Morrison