TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Update: Michael Shelby appeared in Vigo County Court for an initial appearance Thursday morning. As part of the hearing, future dates related to his case were set. Shelby is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on September 27, with a jury trial scheduled for November 27.
Original: A drunken argument following a day of drinking reportedly led a Terre Haute man to slash another man with a meat cleaver.
That’s according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Vigo County Court in regard to the case against 67-year-old Michael Shelby.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday at a residence in the 700 block of N. 25th Street. When arriving at the scene, an officer found Shelby with a meat cleaver in one hand and a cell phone in the other. After a few demands for the man to drop the weapon, the officer was reportedly able to get him in custody safely.
Inside the residence, police found the victim sitting on a couch and bleeding from his left side.
[Victim] removed his shirt and I noticed a large deep laceration to his left rib area.
Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Vigo County Court
When speaking with both Shelby and the victim, officers noted both men to be noticeably intoxicated.
Shelby told police that he and the victim had been drinking together all day, but when he asked the victim to leave, he refused. Shelby said this led to an argument and that the victim had punched him in the chest. Shelby said he then went and got the meat cleaver from the kitchen and returned telling the victim he needed to leave. Shelby said at that point the victim attempted to hit him a second time and so he swung and cut the victim with the meat cleaver.
The victim reportedly had trouble telling police what happened, but essentially passed on the same story saying that the two had gotten into an argument that ended with each man telling the other to “watch your mouth” before the physicality began. However, the victim didn’t mention throwing any punches at Shelby.
Shelby was taken to the Vigo County Jail on preliminary charges of aggravated battery.
In a hearing in Vigo County Superior Court 1, Judge Charles D. Johnson set Shelby’s bond at $15,000 cash only and gave the prosecutor’s 72-hours to file formal charges.
According to public court records, Shelby is next due to appear in court for his Initial Hearing on August 10 at 9 a.m.
