Cigarette dispute leads to domestic assault

A Columbia man was arrested over the weekend on charges that he hit and bit his ex-wife over a pack of cigarettes.

Officers were dispatched at 2:10 p.m. Sunday to 1402 Court St. for a disturbance. A dispatcher told the officers Charles Silvey was involved in a physical fight in the house, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jill Wieneke said. Following the incident, 24-year-old Charles D. Silvey of Columbia was arrested on three different assault charges.

"In particular, he assaulted a female there who is his ex-wife," Wieneke said. "It looks like he hit her and bit her. He had also threatened some other people there and punched a male victim in the head, arm and wrist."

One of the officers had dealt with Silvey before and knew he had a history of violence. Three officers went inside the house and found three people in the back bedroom.

"It sounds like they had been screaming and yelling and fighting physically," Wieneke said.

Witnesses and victims said the fight had been ongoing throughout the day between the people in the residence. Silvey had been agitated all day because he thought someone stole his cigarettes, Wieneke said.

Silvey was arrested at the scene for second-degree domestic assault and third-degree assault, a charge that was enhanced because he had at least two past charges, Wieneke said.

Both victims declined medical attention.

At the time of his arrest, Silvey complained of some medical issues, including minor abrasions on his chest from one of the other people there. Per CPD policy, the police transferred Silvey to the hospital that afternoon. He was released from the hospital at 2 a.m. Monday and returned to CPD custody.

Silvey has been charged with other crimes in the past, including assault, domestic assault, property damage and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license.

The 13th Circuit Judicial Court of Missouri issued a child protection order against Silvey in April 2009