Two Poplar Bluff men injured in fight involving baseball bat

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Two local men were treated for head injuries Saturday after one allegedly attacked the other for viewing sexually explicit images of an acquaintance and then sending the woman a suggestive comment via Facebook.

About 10:45 a.m. Saturday, deputies from the Butler County Sheriff's Department responded to a home in the 400 block of Route AA.

When they arrived, Robert Wayne Rogers was "bleeding from the forehead above his right eye," according to a report.

Rogers allegedly had seen the photos and a video on the woman's cellphone at a Sept. 20 bonfire, according to a police report.

The next day, the report says, Rogers allegedly sent the woman a message on Facebook telling her he had seen the video.

The woman then contacted Rogers' girlfriend, which "caused problems" between the couple.

Rogers subsequently messaged the woman through Facebook to apologize.

On Sept. 23, the woman told an acquaintance, David Lee Norris, about Rogers' alleged actions.

"Norris became upset and began Facebook messaging Rogers and threatening him," the report says. "Rogers returned the threats, but messaged Norris that it wasn't worth fighting over ... and that [Rogers] had apologized."

However, a short time later, someone began knocking on Rogers' door. When Rogers went to investigate, Norris allegedly hit him with a baseball bat.

"A fight began for possession of the bat, and Rogers was able to take the bat away from Norris," according to the report.

Rogers allegedly hit Norris several times before they again "fought for possession of the bat.

"Norris was able to take the bat away from Rogers and hit Rogers in the head, causing [Rogers] to fall to the ground."

As Norris allegedly stood over Rogers with the bat. Rogers' girlfriend "produced her handgun and told Norris to leave or she would shoot him."

Norris walked back to his car with the bat and fled the scene. Norris allegedly threw the bat out the window farther down the highway; it was found by deputies.

Norris, 31, of the 100 block of Antler Trail, was suffering from a suspected broken jaw, the report says.

Rogers was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.