A Centralia man accused of striking a woman in the head in September, causing a laceration that required 18 stitches, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Saturday.
The man, identified as Michael Anthony Pettit, 43, was charged with one count of domestic violence second-degree assault in Lewis County Superior Court on Nov. 14, according to court records.
The assault was reported to the Centralia Police Department just after 4:35 p.m. on Sept. 27. At the time of the report, the victim reported, “She was struck on the head … which ‘split her f—ing head open,’” according to court documents.
The victim identified Pettit as the suspect and reported he fled the scene on a motorcycle.
A witness reported seeing Pettit arguing with the victim and said Pettit “struck (the victim) over the head with something other than his fist,” indicating Pettit had something “shiny that could have been sharp” in his hand when he hit the victim, according to court documents.
Responding officers noted the victim “was holding her forehead with both hands to keep it from bleeding more” and was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Officers noted the injury “appeared to be a laceration caused by a sharp or hard instrument” and said “the injury was definitely not something a fist or hand would usually cause.”
The victim later advised she “ended up having 18 stitches from the injury to her head,” according to court documents.
Investigators were unable to locate Pettit between Sept. 27 and Nov. 13, according to court documents. A Lewis County Superior Court judge issued a $50,000 warrant for Pettit’s arrest on Nov. 14. Jail records indicate Pettit was arrested on that warrant on Dec. 9.
Judge James Lawler ruled Monday, Dec. 10, to maintain the $50,000 bail set in the warrant.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14.
