Fargo Woman Charged After Beating Woman With Hammer

A Fargo woman struck another woman in the head with a hammer-sized tool during a confrontation in a Moorhead garage, causing visible injuries and sending the victim to the hospital, according to charges.

Baily Marie Crissler, 24, faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and fifth-degree assault for inflicting or attempting bodily harm. The charges were filed Tuesday, September 8, in Clay County District Court.

According to the complaint, law enforcement responded to a report of a possible assault at an address on 5th Street South in Moorhead at about 2:40 a.m. on August 14. Officers arrived to find the victim, who reported that she had been assaulted by Crissler inside the garage at the location.

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The victim told officers she had gone to the residence because she had not heard from a man she knew all day. Shortly after she arrived, Crissler entered the garage and began threatening her. When the victim stood up to leave, Crissler grabbed her by the hair, forced her head down and struck her on the top of the head with what the victim described as a hammer-sized tool with a metal sledgehammer head.

The victim said she did not know Crissler had a hammer until she was struck. Crissler continued to strike her multiple times on the head while holding her hair, according to the complaint. The victim tried to defend herself by holding her head with one hand and attempting to keep the hammer away with the other, but did not strike Crissler. The victim also reported being punched in the face and struck in the hip, resulting in injuries to her lip and hip.

Officers observed a large bump on the top of the victim’s head with blood flowing down the side of her face, a swollen lip with redness, blood around her mouth and chin and visible injuries to both forearms. Paramedics transported the victim to Essentia Health Hospital in Fargo for treatment.

Law enforcement later spoke with Crissler by phone. Crissler stated that the victim had arrived at the location and was upset about the end of a relationship. Crissler claimed she tried to speak with the victim, but the victim began directing profanities at her and hit her in the nose and back of the head. Crissler said she drove herself to Sanford Hospital for her own injuries.

When officers asked to meet her at the hospital, Crissler questioned the request and hung up. Further attempts to reach her went to voicemail.

A court date for Crissler has not yet been set.

About This Charge

Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.