DeSoto Man Charged in Attack

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A DeSoto man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a man with a baseball bat in the man's home.

50-year-old Michael B. Petko also allegedly broke windows and other items at the home in the 12600 block of Green Acres Drive, east of De Soto.

According to court documents, Petko was charged July 5, 2024 with first-degree burglary, a class B felony; second-degree assault, a class D felony; armed criminal action, an unclassified felony; and second-degree property damage, a class B misdemeanor.

According to a probable-cause statement, Petko allegedly attacked a man on July 4, which was three days after Petko had been told to leave the property. The alleged victim said he allowed Petko to live in a camper on the property, but Petko did not have access to the home. Petko came to the home with a baseball bat and argued with the man who ran to the home’s back porch. Petko followed the man and allegedly broke two windows with the bat. The man then went inside the house and believed he locked the door. However, Petko allegedly got into the home and started breaking items with the bat. Petko also allegedly swung the bat at the man, who blocked the blow with his hands.

The probable-cause statement also said that the man’s hands were bruised and swollen, but he refused medical attention from emergency medical personnel. Petko ran away from the home before deputies arrived, but he was located in the area and arrested.

Court documents show Petko was on probation at the time of the alleged attack. Petko is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.