Man jailed after sledgehammer fight

PORTAGE, Ind., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- An Indiana man is facing criminal charges for allegedly using a sledgehammer to strike his roommate during a dispute about a truck, officials said.

Boyd C. Briggs, 25, was jailed on a $2,500 bond and faces felony charges of battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana reported Friday. The report said he is expected in court Dec. 1.

Briggs said the Wednesday fight began after his roommate went off-roading in his truck and the vehicle became lodged in mud.

Briggs said he tried to discuss the truck with his roommate, who allegedly socked him in the face. Briggs said he then went inside to retrieve the 5-pound hammer and hit his roommate in the head with it, the Post-Tribune said

"When (Briggs) was told that because the two had separated, self-defense was not likely, he responded, 'I had to get him back for punching me,'" a police report stated.