GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City faces felonies in Madison County after allegedly using an axe to threaten others before striking and damaging an occupied police vehicle.
Patrick A. Holt, 21, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 7, 2026 with one count each of criminal damage to government supported property (a Class 3 felony), aggravated assault of a peace officer, and criminal damage to property (both Class 4 felonies).
Holt allegedly approached an occupied Granite City Police vehicle while “brandishing an axe” and caused over $500 to one of the squad car’s headlights by striking the vehicle with the axe. He is additionally accused of causing over $500 worth of damage to another individual’s vehicle which was located on Bryan Avenue.
According to the state’s petition to deny Holt’s pretrial release from custody, Holt was “identified as the suspect threatening passing motorists with an axe.”
When officers located Holt and attempted to detain him, he reportedly ran towards the police vehicle and struck it with the axe before fleeing into a residence. Officers reportedly surrounded the building before Holt was eventually persuaded to leave the home. Additional property damage was later reported by nearby neighbors.
The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Holt, who was ordered remanded to jail for his initial court appearance.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
