A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is in intensive care after suffering a skull fracture when he was beaten by another man who authorities say committed a series of crimes in the Town & Country subdivision Friday night.
Jeffrey David Brunelle, 30, of the 300 block of County Road 476 was charged Saturday with the Class A felony of first-degree assault and the Class B felony of first-degree burglary by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher, who recommended Brunelle's bond be set at $100,000 cash.
Brunelle is accused of causing serious physical injury to Aaron Winchester, who was a patient in the surgical ICU at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on Saturday, and unlawfully entering the Winchester home in the 2000 block of Fernwood Road.
"Additional charges will be coming when we get all the reports," Oesterreicher said.
Brunelle is accused of committing two burglaries, as well as multiple assaults and property damages at four locations in the city and one location in the county.
The initial report of Brunelle's alleged actions was made to the Butler County Sheriff's Department at about 9:25 p.m.
Deputies contacted Shelby McElhaney, Sean Cline and Lindell Hood at the former Dennis Outdoors in the 3600 block of South Westwood Boulevard.
According to Butler County Sgt. Aaron Pratt's report, he was told the suspect, later identified as Brunelle, already had fled the scene and had been seen jumping through the passenger window of a blue Jeep, which was eastbound on Bedoll Avenue.
McElhaney and Cline, Pratt said, reported they had met and were in McElhaney's vehicle talking when Brunelle "approached her vehicle and got into the back driver's side passenger seat without her permission."
McElhaney further reported Brunelle "immediately stated: 'You need to drive.' (She) stated S. Cline instructed (Brunelle) to exit the vehicle."
At that point, Brunelle replied: "'I'll blow your ------- heads off.'"
McElhaney and Cline told Pratt they stayed in the vehicle for a short time "in fear of what may happen," Pratt said. "(She) stated S. Cline told her to get out of the vehicle."
McElhaney told Pratt she removed her keys from the ignition, and she and Cline ran to his vehicle.
Brunelle reportedly stayed in McElhaney's vehicle and allegedly kicked out the rear driver's side window.
McElhaney and Cline, Pratt said, then drove to her nearby home, where they contacted her stepfather, Hood.
Pratt said Hood reported he went to Dennis Outdoors, where he found Brunelle still inside McElhaney's vehicle.
Hood further reported Brunelle got out and approached his vehicle, Pratt said.
Brunelle allegedly attempted to enter Hood's vehicle and threatened to shoot him if he did not open the door.
Pratt said Hood told him Brunelle "grasped his hands as if he had a pistol in his hands and instructed him to open the door.
"L. Hood advised me he then removed (his) pistol and pointed it at (Brunelle) in fear of his life."
Brunelle then allegedly punched Hood's driver side window and fled on foot, Pratt said.
Winchester, according to police Patrolman James Henry's report, was on his way home when he heard a "thump sound and thought a dog or something ran into the side of his Jeep.
"He stopped and rolled his window down and was looking around when (Brunelle) jumped into his vehicle."
Brunelle reportedly demanded Winchester "give him a ride to the airport and then a ride home."
As Winchester was driving, Brunelle allegedly began to hit him in the right side of the head.
Upon Winchester arriving at his Fernwood home, Henry said, the man tried to get inside away from Brunelle, but "(Brunelle) followed him into the residence.
"Once inside, (Brunelle) continued to assault him."
Henry said Winchester's mother, Sheila, reported Brunelle allegedly "got Aaron down on the bed and was hitting him multiple times on the right side of the head.
"She tried to break them up, and (Brunelle) hit her in the nose" before he left the bedroom.
Sheila Winchester's husband, Michael, Henry said, reported he was asleep, but he heard the "commotion and started down the hall to check on it and met (Brunelle) in the hallway.
"(Brunelle) hit him in the right eye with his fist and then left the residence."
Emergency-medical-services personnel responded to the Winchester home, but all three declined treatment; however, a short time later Aaron Winchester began having a seizure.
EMS returned and Aaron Winchester was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with fractures to the right side of his face and a skull fracture. He was transferred to the Cape Girardeau hospital for further treatment, while his parents were treated locally for their facial injuries.
Additional incidents allegedly involving Brunelle were reported at two Wasson Drive residences.
Patrolman Austin Lemonds took a report from Jimmy Denson, a resident of the 2000 block of Wasson.
Denson, Lemonds said, reported he was inside his home when he heard glass break.
"(Denson) located a window broken in his son's bedroom," Lemonds said.
When Denson investigated, Lemonds said, he reported seeing a man walking south away from his home in the direction of another home in the same block.
Police Cpl. Steve Nance was sent to the other Wasson residence, where he contacted Amber Strader, Jason Whitmer and Dawn Andrews, who reported they were inside when the heard a commotion outside.
"Jason went to the front door, and he seen a white male (Brunelle) at their mailbox," Nance wrote in his report. "When (Brunelle) seen him at the door, he came toward the front door, so Jason shut the door and dead bolted it.
"(Brunelle) kicked the door in and entered the residence demanding keys and asking about family."
Brunelle then went back outside and allegedly threw a concrete block at Whitmer's 2000 GMC pickup, causing damage to the truck.
Brunelle then began walking toward Bedoll Avenue.
Ian Cole reported to Lemonds he was attempting to put his motorcycle inside his garage in the 2800 block of Bedoll when "he was struck in the side of the head with an unknown object.
"He looked up and saw Brunelle ... about to jump onto him."
Brunelle, according to Cole's statement, allegedly began "viciously attacking" him and threatened to kill him during the altercation.
As Butler County Deputy Matthew Cagle was southbound on Bedoll, he reported he was flagged down by a man.
As he exited his patrol car, "I heard what sounded like an altercation taking place near the side of the residence," according to Cagle's report.
Cagle said he and police Patrolman Billie Duckett went over the altercation where they saw a man, who matched the description of the suspect officers had been searching for.
When officers attempted to take Brunelle into custody, Cagle said, he allegedly resisted and a brief struggle ensued.
Cagle indicated Brunelle appeared to be under the influence of narcotics.
"(He) made several erratic statements, and it was very difficult to understand what he was saying," Cagle said.
At the time of his arrest, Brunelle allegedly was in possession of several cellphones, including those reported stolen from Aaron and Sheila Winchester.
Brunelle was treated at the Poplar Bluff hospital and subsequently booked at the Butler County jail.