A Warren man is being held on an attempted murder charge after police said he struck his mother in the head with a hammer, causing life-threatening injuries.

Police were called to 22 Birchswamp Road at 10:17 a.m. Monday, May 24, and found a 53-year-old woman with "serious life threatening injuries," police said. She was immediately transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Warren Rescue crews.

Her son, Kevin M. Mendes, 34, who lives with his mother, was taken into custody and at an arraignment at the Warren police station later Monday was ordered held without bail on a charge of domestic assault with a deadly weapon, with intent to commit murder. He will be formally arraigned in Sixth Division District Court Tuesday, May 25.

Warren police contacted the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office and Rhode Island State Police and are being assisted in the investigation by those offices, Warren Police Chief Roy Borges said.

At the time of Monday's arrest, Mr. Mendes was out on bond on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assaulting a police officer, simple assault and/or battery, resisting arrest and on two counts of disorderly conduct, following his arrest by Warren police in early February of this year.

Police said at the time of his arrest that they had received reports that an occupied vehicle blocked a Birchswamp Road woman's driveway and refused to leave. Police said that as officers investigated, Mr. Mendes attempted to assault an officer with a machete. The officer was not injured.

According to the state's criminal information database:

In March 2014, Warren police charged Mr. Mendes with domestic vandalism and domestic disorderly conduct.

In April 2009, Mr. Mendes was charged by Warren police with driving under the influence of alcohol and disorderly conduct.

In May 2008, Mr. Mendes was charged by Warren police with domestic disorderly conduct and domestic simple assault.