Ohio man arrested for assaulting, robbing Columbia man

An Ohio man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Columbia man repeatedly with a hammer Monday morning.

Jason Robert Davis, 31, of Ashtabula, Ohio, was arrested along Interstate 70 around 10:40 a.m. Monday by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and Lafayette County sheriff’s deputies.

Police say Davis assaulted a Columbia man around 4 a.m. on Redwood Road.

According to court documents, Davis told police he hit the victim in the head numerous times with a hammer, while the victim was asleep. He told police he wanted the victim’s cell phone and car.

Neighbors told ABC 17 News they did not hear the attack.

“I was at home, asleep with my grandson, and the next morning it was taped off and the police said somebody was assaulted,” said neighbor Shawarner Davis.

In the court documents, Davis “was not able to keep amount” of how many times he struck the victim in the head with the hammer.

Davis also allegedly told the victim that he would return and kill him if the victim called police.

Boone County prosecuting attorney Dan Knight is handling the case. He said Davis could be facing at least 10 years, or up to life behind bars.

“This is an extremely serious case and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure justice is done,” Knight said.

The victim suffered serious injuries to his head and was taken to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.

According to police, Davis stole the victim’s car, but then ran out of gas on I-70 Monday. Officers found Davis walking nearby and arrested him.

He was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, felony tampering with a witness, and first-degree tampering.

Prosecutor Dan Knight has requested a bond of $750,000 cash-only, based on the serious nature of this crime and Davis’ criminal background.

This is not Davis’ first run-in with police.

He told Columbia police he has also been convicted of two felonies in Ohio, but it is not known what those felonies are.

In 2011, he was arrested in New York for menacing and harassing. And in 2013, he was arrested in St. Louis for kidnapping and rape. That case was dismissed by the court, but the circuit attorney for St. Louis could not say why.