DOWAGIAC — A Dowagiac man has been arrested on assault charges after hitting a woman with a bat and swinging a chainsaw blade at her, according to the Dowagiac Police Department.
At approximately 3:15 a.m. Monday, Dowagiac police were contacted by a victim who told offers that she was assaulted by a family member at a residence in the 100 block of Jay Street in Dowagiac.
The victim said the suspect hit her in the face by swinging a chainsaw blade at her and striking her with a small bat. The victim sustained minor injuries that she treated on her own.
After speaking with the victim, officers attempted to locate the suspect at his apartment on Jay Street. The suspect refused to cooperate with police and would not open the door, telling police to come back with a search warrant. Officers stood by at the residence while a search warrant was obtained.
Due to the demeanor of the suspect as well as the violent nature of the initial assault, officers utilized the Cass County Warrant Service Team to assist in executing the search warrant. Once the warrant service team was used to contact the suspect, both he and another occupant of the apartment came out. They were taken into custody without incident, according to officers.
The suspect, a 53-year-old man from Dowagiac, was arrested for felonious/aggravated assault and lodged at the Cass County Jail. The other male subject was arrested on an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was also lodged at the Cass County Jail. All charges are pending authorization from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. The name of the suspect is being withheld pending his arraignment in Cass County 4th District Court.
The location of the incident, which concluded at 7:45 a.m., was across the street from a school bus pick-up location. Officers coordinated with school transportation officials and provided security at the site for students waiting to be picked up by the bus. Officers ensured that students did not walk near the residence where the incident occurred and escorted those coming to the bus stop. At no time were any students in danger during this incident, according to the Dowagiac Police Department.
Dowagiac police were assisted on the scene by the Pokagon Tribal Police, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, PRIDE Ambulance and the Dowagiac Fire Department.