An Imperial man and Arnold woman have been accused of attacking a man at an Arnold apartment and stealing the alleged victim’s cell phone and money. The Imperial man allegedly hit the other man with a sock containing two potatoes after entering the apartment, according to court documents.
Nicholas Tyler Matt, 32, and Tara Nicole Meeks, 30, both have been charged with felony first-degree robbery. As of Friday, Feb. 13, they were both being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro, court records said.
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, Matt and Meeks at about 2:35 a.m. Dec. 10 went to a unit at the Villa Apartments in the 1100 block of Airglades Drive in Arnold. The man, who was allegedly attacked, answered the door and when he turned around Matt and Meeks attacked him.
The man said he was hit up to 50 times, including with the potato-filled sock. He said Meeks stole his cell phone, and he believes either Matt or Meeks stole $140 from his pocket, the report said.
The man was transported to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County, where he was treated for facial injuries and a concussion, according to the report.
Two other people inside the apartment told Arnold Police they saw Matt and Meeks attack the man, the report said.
One of the people said Matt hit the other man from behind, and Meeks asked, “What’s he got in his pockets?” during the attack. The witness said Matt and Meeks went through the man’s pockets before leaving, according to the report.
The other witness said she saw the man being attacked after coming out of the bathroom. She said Matt and Meeks threatened to attack her if she didn’t leave, and when she left, the victim was still being attacked, the report said.
Arnold Police allegedly found a tube sock with two baseball-sized potatoes in the bathroom. Matt allegedly told investigators he hit the other man multiple times, and he had the sock with potatoes because he had a previous hand injury, according to the report.