Perryville man accused in knife attack

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A 33-year-old Perryville man was being held in the county jail Wednesday on charges associated with an alleged knife attack on two women early Saturday morning.

The Perry County Sheriff's Department responded at 1:49 a.m. to a 911 call from 7089 Route B, Sheriff Gary Schaaf said. The caller hung up and could not be reached, Schaaf said.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies determined Steven L. Crowden had allegedly attacked two women, cutting each on her neck. All three were intoxicated, Schaaf said.

"They built a little campfire. The next thing you know, he threatened to kill everybody," Schaaf said.

Crowden pushed one woman into the fire in the backyard, Schaaf said. She suffered burns on her legs. He cut the other woman on the neck, but she wrested the knife away from him and threw it behind a washing machine, Schaaf said. The woman with the neck wound then went to tend to the woman with burns and Crowden came up with another knife, Schaaf said. He cut the burned woman on the neck, but neither woman's wounds were life-threatening, Schaaf said. They refused treatment by an ambulance that came to the scene.

Deputies booked Crowden on two charges of first-degree domestic assault and one charge each of armed criminal action and second-degree domestic assault. Crowden was so intoxicated, two deputies had to help him walk from the patrol car to the jail, Schaaf said.

Crowden was in jail Wednesday on a $50,000 cash-only bond, according to online court records. A preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Aug. 21.

Crowden is being represented by public defender Jennifer Booth. Booth said she cannot comment on the case.

jgamm@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

7089 Route B, Perryville, MO