Cape man charged in bat attack

A Cape Girardeau man was charged on Wednesday with using a baseball bat to attack a man on North Ellis Street.

Joseph A. Akens, 25, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault. He is being held on a $2,500 bond and faces up to seven years in prison or one year in county jail if convicted. The 31-year-old victim received moderate injuries, said Sgt. Barry Hovis.

The incident occurred around midnight on Tuesday in the 300 block of North Ellis Street.

The victim was walking on the street, looking for a friend. Akens allegedly approached him, carrying a red aluminum baseball bat, Hovis said. Akens demanded $500 that he believed the victim owed him. They started arguing after the victim denied that he owed money.

Akens then struck the victim on the head with the bat, police said. They struggled briefly until the victim broke away and fled. While fleeing, he ran into a tree, causing a moderate injury to his face. The victim ran into the police station and reported the incident.