One arrested after local man allegedly assaulted with a hatchet

A Poplar Bluff man may face assault charges after allegedly striking another man with a hatchet Monday night.

Poplar Bluff officers responded at about 9:30 p.m. to a report of a possible domestic dispute in progress involving a knife at residence in the 1900 block of Glendale Road, police Patrolman Austin Lemonds wrote in his report.

Upon his arrival, Lemonds said, he contacted Toby Edward Lacy, in the driveway.

Lacy reported there was a “subject in the basement who was having a seizure,” Lemonds said. “ … Upon entering the basement, I located Matthew Clatt laying on the couch with blood coming from his knee and the left side of his neck.”

At that time, Lemonds said, Clatt, 33, reported he had had a seizure and struck a table.

Pressure, Lemonds said, was held on Clatt’s wounds until emergency-medical-services personnel arrived and transported him to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment.

At about 10:15 p.m., Patrolman Brentyn Clark was sent to the emergency room, where he contacted Clatt, who reported he had been assaulted by Lacy.

Clatt, according to Clark’s report, told him he had woke up and gone upstairs to get something to eat.

Upon returning downstairs, Clatt alleged Lacy picked up a small axe, later described as a small camping hatchet, and struck him in the leg while he was sitting on the couch, Clark said.

Clatt further reported he attempted to get the axe away from Lacy and began striking him with closed fists, Clark said.

While allegedly fighting with Lacy, Clark said, Clatt reported Lacy struck him with the axe on his arm and neck, as well as got on top of him and sat on him.

At one point, Clatt alleged Lacy picked up a lamp and began hitting him in the head with it, Clark said.

Clatt reported he asked his brother to contact the authorities, and Lacy allegedly threatened to kill Clatt and his family if the cops showed up, Clark said.

According to his statement, Clatt reported Lacy allegedly turned over a table and told him to “tell officers I had a seizure or I would die.”

Clark said he saw what he described as a severe laceration under Clatt’s right knee.

“The laceration was approximately 3 inches long, consistent with the blade of a small hatchet,” said Clark, who also noted approximately 1-inch lacerations on Clatt’s right forearm and back of his neck.

“Clatt had several minor scratches on both arms,” Clark said. “(He) had four knots on the left side of his head, consistent with being struck in the head by an object.”

Clark said Clatt also had blood on his head, arms, leg and clothing.

After Clatt made his statement, Lemonds returned to the Glendale residence and arrested Lacy, 42, at about 11:20 p.m. on suspicion of first-degree domestic assault.

Lacy subsequently was taken to the police department, where he was told of his rights and provided a written statement.

Lacy, Clark said, reported he was with Clatt at the Glendale residence when he alleged Clatt was “shooting up heroin,” and he was “trying to get Matt to drop the knife and the full syringe of heroin.”

Clark said Lacy alleged Clatt was threatening to kill himself, and that he “jumped up trying to get the knife out of (Clatt’s) hands, and at that moment, we began to fight.”

Lacy, according to Clark, denied taking the knife and swinging it at Clatt, but indicated “‘we fought over it.’”

Clark said Lacy reported Clatt “got cut on the knee” at some point, but he “did not do it on purpose.”

Lacy, Clark said, admitted he “may have hit him with it.”

Clark said Lacy reported trying to defend himself and being scared that Clatt was going to overdose and kill himself.

Lacy reportedly denied wanting to hurt Clatt, only wanting to “keep him from hurting himself,” Clark said.

Lacy, who had no visible injuries, subsequently was booked at the Butler County jail.