Morris R. Keith, Jr. appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Monday afternoon on charges that he hit his neighbor in the face with a sledgehammer. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
A man accused of hitting his neighbor in the face with a sledgehammer after a noise dispute has been charged in Lewis County Superior Court with second-degree assault, first-degree burglary and harassment.
Morris R. Keith Jr., 59, of Centralia, was arrested at 9:52 p.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of Central Boulevard and booked into the Lewis County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault.
According to court documents, Keith went to his neighbor’s house carrying a pink sledgehammer, and while complaining about rap music, hit his neighbor in the crotch with the sledgehammer.
Keith then allegedly hit the man in the face with the hammer. Keith also allegedly threatened to kill a woman who tried to get between him and the neighbor.
Keith told police officers that the neighbor had attacked him with the sledgehammer first.
The neighbor was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, where a doctor told officers that he had the worst broken nose the doctor had ever seen, according to court documents.
The sledgehammer was later found on a nearby roof, according to court documents.
Keith was granted $25,000 bail at Monday’s hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
