St. Cloud woman charged with felony second-degree rioting with a weapon for fighting with a hatchet

St. Cloud, Minn. (KFGO) – A St. Cloud woman is charged with a felony after a physical fight escalated into an alleged hatchet attack last Thursday.

According to the court records, on Nov. 2, 18-year-old Marla Baird-Adams had been drinking during the afternoon when she and another woman began fighting. A third woman said she stepped in to intervene and ended up in a fight with the second woman.

As a neighbor was breaking up that fight, they say Baird-Adams was standing in the yard with a hatchet in her hand and began yelling at the second woman.

Witnesses said the second woman ran toward Baird-Adams, and a physical fight resumed with Baird-Adams allegedly swinging the hatchet at her.

Police were able to separate the two.

Baird-Adams was arrested on suspicion of 2nd-degree riot armed with a dangerous weapon. Police said a preliminary test determined her blood-alcohol level was .17.

Court records show the victim suffered multiple cuts from the hatchet that required stitches.

Story by Ryan Janke / KFGO