Culinary Student Struggles Over Large Knife with St. Charles Resident

A man pulled out a knife and struggled with a a St. Charles resident in front of a St. Charles home, police said.

Ethan V. Schafer, 20, of the 2900 block of Scarsdale Manor Drive in St. Charles, was charged Monday with second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

St. Charles Police said Schafer and the victim's stepdaughter were arguing in her front yard when the her stepfather and mother came out to investigate the loud voices. The woman asked them to go inside, and they complied.

The stepfather came back outside after he again heard loud voices. He told police he saw Schafer with a metal bar in his hands and he appeared to be advancing toward his stepdaughter, so he walked toward Schafer.

According to police, Schafer then threw down the metal bar, went to his car and retrieved a large knife. Schafer is in culinary school and had several knives in his trunk, police said.

The stepfather told police Schafer swung the knife at him and said he was going to kill him. The two struggled over the knife and both were injured, the stepfather told police. Officers noted the stepfather had a cut on his left thumb.

Schafer is being held in St. Charles County jail. Bail was set at $25,000.