Man Pushes Way Into Home, Hits Neighbor With Bat, Police Say

An Oakville man pushed his way into a neighbor’s home and began hitting the man with a metal baseball bat, police said.

John Ciarniello, 53, of the 4000 block of Nottingham Estates Drive in Oakville, was charged Tuesday with first-degree assault and first-degree burglary.

St. Louis County Police said Ciarniello knocked on a neighbor’s door Monday in the 4000 block of Nottingham Estates Drive. When the neighbor answered his door, Ciarniello pushed his way inside, police said.

According to a court document, Ciarniello yelled, “I’m going to kill you for (expletive) with my stuff,” and began hitting the man with a metal baseball bat that he brought with him.

The man was able to grab the bat, and he and his wife struggled with Ciarniello, police said. The man had cuts and bruises and planned to seek medical treatment for pain in his head.

Ciarniello is being held in the St. Louis County Justice Center in lieu of a $75,000 bond.