Hammer Attack At Elwood's Jackson Generation Site

ELWOOD, IL —A June 24 hammer attack at the Jackson Generation power plant being built in Elwood has resulted in three criminal charges against 38-year-old construction worker Nicholas Dahm of Lowell, Indiana.

Dahm and a fellow 45-year-old construction worker got into a disagreement over a grinder saw and a fight ensued, according to Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes.

During the argument with his fellow construction worker, Dahm grabbed a hammer, and he struck the 45-year-old man in the left ear, and then he continued to punch the victim several times in the head, according to Hayes.

Eventually, other union contractors at the power plant in Elwood intervened and broke up the fight. Elwood police were called, and Dahm was arrested at the time.

This week, Will County indicted Dahm on two counts of aggravated battery and one count of battery. According to prosecutors, Dahm "caused great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement ... in that said defendant struck (the man) about the head."

One of the aggravated battery charges states that Dahm acted without legal justification when he caused bodily harm to his victim by using a deadly weapon, a hammer, to strike the victim in the head.

Initially, prosecutors charged Dahm in June with a single misdemeanor offense of battery.

The victim of the hammer attack did not suffer any serious injuries, and he refused to go to the hospital by ambulance, Hayes said.

The Jackson Generation power plant is being built at the corner of Brandon and Noel Roads in Elwood. According to the company, "this combined cycle plant will run off a gas and steam turbine together ... (and) will be able to generate approximately 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts, enough energy to power 1.2 million homes."