Local Man Attacked With an Axe on Washington Street

A Marblehead man accused of nearly chopping his roommate's hand off with a rusty axe Thursday night was ordered held Friday afternoon following his arraignment on assault charges.

Michael Kelley, 52, of 296 Washington St., Marblehead, pleaded not guilty Friday in Lynn District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (axe), assault with a dangerous weapon (cutting instrument), aggravated assault and battery and domestic assault and battery.

At 9:40 p.m., local police officers responded to 296 Washington St. for a report of a fight in a first-floor apartment and were reportedly flagged down by a hysterical woman with blood on her hands, face and clothing. 

When police entered the apartment to find the victim, they reportedly discovered Kelley and another man sitting on the ground in the kitchen and found blood all over the ceiling, walls and floor, according to court documents.

A witness to the alleged attack told officers that the two men were drunk and arguing over past-due rent when Kelley grabbed an axe and struck the victim in the wrist, according to the report.

Both men were taken to the hospital by ambulance to be treated for injuries sustained in the altercation and police reportedly confiscated the axe believed to have been used in the attack and several items of clothing while investigating the incident.

The victim reportedly suffered a lacerated radial artery that would require surgery to repair, according to court documents.

Judge James Wexler ordered Kelley held without bail Friday pending a dangerousness hearing. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 12 for a pretrial hearing.