Man arrested after hammer attack

A 59-year-old homeless man was arrested Thursday night after attacking his homeless girlfriend with a hammer near the Burger King parking lot on Stock Island.

Mark Michael Bucher was charged with aggravated battery, resisting arrest and tampering with evidence.

Deputies Brandon White, Kathleen Donovan and Chris Schwartz responded at 10 p.m. Deputy White was told the suspect, later identified as Bucher, fled on foot with the hammer used to beat the 57-year-old, female victim. Deputy White found Bucher walking north on U.S. 1. He had fresh dried blood on his arms.

Deputy Schwartz stayed with the victim who had a large cut on her head. She stated she and Bucher were celebrating their one year anniversary when Bucher became intoxicated and argumentative. She stated Bucher told her he was going to kill her and repeatedly struck her with the hammer before leaving the scene with the hammer. The woman was then taken to Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island. Her condition Friday morning was not immediately clear.

Two witnesses who saw the incident stopped and stayed to give Deputy White statements that corroborated the victim’s version of the events.

Deputy Donovan located the hammer nearby in some bushes. It appeared to have hair and blood stains on the handle.

Bucher and the victim are known to Deputies as both being homeless and a couple who often camp in the Lower Keys as well as stay at the Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter.

Bucher was then placed under arrest at which point he became non-compliant by pulling away from Deputies and refusing to be placed in the patrol car.

Bucher was taken to jail.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]