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Last updated on Friday, November 30, 2012
(SALEM) - A Salem man received 21 staples in his head after he was beaten by an acquaintance with a crowbar last Friday.
32-year-old Matthew W. Hardin, of Taylorsville, Ky., was arrested on charges of battery with serious bodily injury.
Police say 45-year-old Brian D. O'Keefe, of Salem was driving a 2002 Dodge Durango and Hardin was his passenger. The two had left from the Good Samaritan Inn and went to the post office, then to Kay's Closet, a clothing ministry at First Christian Church. It was closed.
As they were leaving Hardin allegedly pulled a knife and demanded O'Keefe drive him to Louisville and that he give him his wallet and money.
That is when police say O'Keefe pulled into parking lot Setser's Tobacco on East Hackberry.
O'Keefe attempted to get out of the vehicle, but he was wearing his seat belt and couldn't get out quickly. That is when O'Keefe says Hardin hit him in the head and face with a crow bar.
O'Keefe was able to get out of the car and run into the store for help.
Hardin ran from the scene. Police found him at the fairgrounds a short time later.
Police say O'Keefe told police he was wanted to "beat him (O'Keefe) to death."
Harding told police it was O'Keefe who attempted to injury him with a "butcher knife" and that Harding hit O'Keefe with the crowbar in self-defense.
Hardin told police he thought he had killed O'Keefe and that is why he ran from the scene.
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