St. Louis man charged in Jefferson City assault on woman

A St. Louis man is wanted after being charged with second-degree assault in the Monday beating of a woman in Jefferson City.

A warrant for the arrest of Danny Craig III was issued Thursday. His bond is set at $5,000, cash only.

Craig, 38, is accused of attacking a woman "under the influence of sudden passion arising out of adequate cause by choking her and stating he was going to kill her," according to the felony complaint. Second-degree assault is a Class D felony.

The victim in the case stated she parked her car to the rear of a friend's house in the 200 block of West Elm Street at 10:05 a.m. Monday, when Craig, her acquaintance began yelling at her and accused her of stealing his heroin, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.

The victim stated Craig then hit her repeatedly in the face. He pushed her to the ground and choked her.

While he allegedly choked her, she said Craig yelled he was going to kill her, and she felt as if she would black out. She said she was able to kick Craig off of her, but he leaned back in and punched her in the face and grabbed her hair.

She was able to get off the ground, but Craig followed her and chased her around her car.

However, once she grabbed a machete from her car and threatened Craig with it, he left the area on foot.

A witness said she saw a black man with long dreads punching the victim multiple times, yelling he wanted his stuff back.

The victim was transported to the hospital for her injuries: blood covering her face, chest, arms and hands, and her left eye bruised and swollen.