Cape man charged with assault

A Cape Girardeau man was charged Wednesday with domestic assault and assault with physical injury after allegedly beating another man's head repeatedly against a coffee table and the leg of a wooden chair.

According to a probable-cause statement by officer Shaun Smelser, Joshua J. Kelley, 23, assaulted another man at a Cape Girardeau residence when he went to the home of his estranged wife.

The alleged assault occurred Saturday, the statement said.

Kelly used a mini Maglite flashlight to strike him in the back, after striking him about 20 times in all and slamming his head into a coffee table and later a wooden chair leg, the statement said.

Kelley's wife, from whom he is estranged, told police that Kelly entered her home and began to repeatedly beat her guest with hands and fists, then using the Maglite and a metal box as weapons.

The victim also said that while trying to break up the two men, Kelly struck her hard across the face, according to the statement.

Kelly denied being at the residence at all on the date in question, saying he though he'd been on good terms with the victim.

A $2,500 surety bond was posted Thursday morning following an arraignment.

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