Cape Girardeau man arrested after alleged hatchet incident

Cape Girardeau police arrested a man Saturday evening after he allegedly brandished a hatchet at an unidentified woman.

Robin Christopher Shelman, 24, received felony and misdemeanor assault charges and a requirement to post a $20,000 bond after his arrest.

According to the probable-cause statement, Shelman was observed in the parking lot of the Steak n' Shake in Cape Girardeau after he cut in front of another driver in traffic.

That driver, an unidentified woman, followed Shelman's car into the restaurant parking lot, where she got out and began yelling at Shelman, the statement said. The exchange became heated and Shelman appeared to threaten the woman with an object.

When police pulled over Shelman's car a short time later at South Kingshighway and Bloomfield Street, they recovered a small hatchet and a pocketknife, according to the probable-cause statement. As the officers were arresting Shelman, he began kicking at one of them, according to the statement.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle added that Shelman did not initially give officers his correct name, but was later identified through fingerprint records sent to the FBI.

Swingle said Shelman told the officers he was a "Juggalo" -- a fan of the Detroit-based band Insane Clown Posse, known for a form of hip hop music called "horrorcore." The band's logo is the silhouette of a running clown holding a hatchet.

Shelman is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Gary Kamp today.

Pertinent addresses

100 Court St., Jackson, MO

3061 Highway K, Cape Girardeau, MO

40 S. Sprigg St, Cape Girardeau, MO