HAZEL PARK, Mich. — A local man faces serious criminal charges following a violent incident at his home, where he allegedly used a hatchet to assault a visitor. Robert Narducci, 51, was arraigned on January 30 in Hazel Park’s 43rd District Court, facing a felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, an offense that could lead to up to a decade in prison.
The alleged attack took place in the early hours of January 29 when a 31-year-old man from Royal Oak and a friend arrived at Narducci’s residence on East Nine Mile Road around 2 a.m. The men were reportedly there to pick up another individual, not a resident of the house, which is shared by Narducci and three others.
According to Hazel Park Police Chief William Hamel, the confrontation stemmed from a past grievance involving a family member of the suspect. As tensions escalated, Narducci is said to have seized a hatchet from the dining room wall and struck at the victim’s head. The victim raised his arm to shield himself and sustained a significant cut to his hand instead.
Following the attack, the victim fled with his friend, but Narducci allegedly pursued them, hitting him in the face with the hatchet’s hammer end. The injuries prompted a visit to the hospital, where medical staff alerted police around 2:20 a.m. to a man with serious wounds to his hand and mouth.
In response to the attack, officers obtained a search warrant for Narducci’s home. They arrested him on the scene and recovered the suspected weapon along with blood evidence. The case was subsequently handed over to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, which initiated formal charges against Narducci.
As of now, Narducci is awaiting the appointment of a court-assigned attorney, according to recent court records. The incident has raised concerns among residents about safety and the potential for escalating violence in the community.