Cape man may lose eye after shovel beating, police say

While the victim was lying on the ground, police say a Cape Girardeau man hit him in the face and body with a shovel Thursday.

Cape Girardeau police arrested Will Frazier, 41, and the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney’s office charged him with first-degree assault and armed-criminal action. Frazier’s bond was set at $150,000 cash or surety.

Cape Girardeau police officer Brett Hellman saw Frazier first as he drove to an assault in progress at 11:45 a.m. in the 500 block of South Frederick Street. Frazier said he had gotten into a physical altercation with Danny Stratton over some money he thought Stratton owed him, Hellman wrote.

He said he struck Stratton in the face a few times but only after Stratton tried to strike him, according to a probable-cause statement.

Stratton had blood on his head and face, and his right eye was swollen and partially shut, Hellman wrote.

A witness, Joannie Smith, said Frazier was kicking and punching Stratton while he was on the ground, according to the statement. She yelled at Frazier to stop because she thought he might kill Stratton, but Frazier picked up a shovel and continued to hit Stratton in the face and body.

Another witness, Pernisha White, said she saw Frazier hit Stratton in the face with a shovel, Hellman wrote.

Hellman talked to Stratton at the hospital, and a nurse said Stratton was probably going to lose his right eye, according to the statement.

Stratton was cutting a downed tree in an empty lot when he was approached by Frazier, Hellman wrote. Frazier asked to cut a few limbs in exchange for money, according to the statement. Frazier asked for more money, and when Stratton refused, Frazier became irate.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

500 block of South Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.