Florissant man charged for sledgehammer assault

UNION, Mo. – A Florissant man will appear before a judge in Franklin County Circuit Court on Monday for allegedly attacking someone with a small sledgehammer over the weekend.

According to a probable cause statement from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the attack happened on Saturday, Sept. 13. Authorities did not provide a more specific location.

Investigators said Mohammed Alatawi and the victim were returning home from a camping trip. Alatawi became angry over a phone conversation and hit the victim on the head with a three-pound sledgehammer. Witnesses said Alatawi struck the victim four or five times.

Alatawi claimed he struck the victim only once in self-defense.

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Alatawi with first-degree assault. Alatawi remains jailed on a $150,000 cash-only bond.