BRAWL BREAKS OUT ON DEPOT

2 ARRESTED – 2 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Call Time: 12:42 a.m. Saturday April 26, 2009
Elyria – A confrontation behind an Elyria bar on Depot Street early Saturday morning lead to arrests and people going to the hospital.

Tiffany Reed and Kimberly King were pulling out of the parking lot of Pudge’s bar on the Depot Street side when they say three black males walked by and commented about not hitting them with the vehicle. Reed told Police that she and King then exited the vehicle to “see what they had to say.”

Reed said that the men then assaulted her for no reason at all and that is when the melee began and Police were called.

As Officers arrived they observed a white male in a green shirt, later identified as Christopher Smith, screaming at another white male, later identified as Roy Byrge, was walking away and another white male who also appeared to be involved. Smith screamed “what you got to say now bitch” then ran after him and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground next to another male that was already lying on the ground motionless.

Officers called for LifeCare Paramedics then identified themselves and yelled for Smith to get on the ground as he was still lunging towards Byrge to further assault him. Officer Moss took hold of Smith’s arm to pull him away from Byrge. Smith then turned to face Officers and pulled away, then swung his fist and punched Officer Moss in the right side of his face, knocking his glasses off. Moss struck Smith in the face and administered several knee strikes to Smith’s legs in an attempt to get Smith to the ground. Officers were finally able to get Smith to the ground but he continued to struggle with them as King stepped in and began screaming at the Officers and grabbed Moss, trying to pull him off of Smith. Moss pushed her away and ordered her to get back. King then began screaming, “arrest the niggers not the white boys, you fucking pussy cops.” Officers were able to cuff Smith as King again tried to interfere and continued with her racial rants.

Smith was ordered to remain on the ground as Officers attempted to attend to the unconscious male lying on the ground. Smith then tried to get up and was still trying to fight with the Officers at which time he tried to kick Moss – but missed. Smith was then placed in a cruiser.

King then began screaming “all the niggers around here never go to jail, you faggot cops are scared to arrest the niggers.” Police say King would not cease and was subsequently placed under arrest.

Officers later identified the man on the ground as Isidro Casarez and found that Byrge had left the scene – it was later discovered that Byrge had an active warrant. As Casarez began coming around he told Officers that he only remembers being knocked out – nothing else.

Police say the other white male was identified as Joseph Elkins. Elkins, Smith’s brother, who was also bleeding from the face and highly intoxicated told Police that he saw that his brother was “in a fight with some black guys” so he went to help him out – but he was also beaten up.

Reed, who was bleeding from the face, told Police that she was Smith’s girlfriend and that the three black guys assaulted her. Reed said that she was from Geauga and wanted the Officers to arrest the males who assaulted her. When Officers asked for a description of the males involved Reed replied; “No, they all look alike just go find them, I want them arrested.”

Reed was advised that the Officers observed no black males in the incident when they arrived on the scene and without further information there was no way to find the other parties. Reed was upset and continued to make further racial comments according to the Police. She was then given a ride to the Police Station to make arrangements to get back to Geauga.

LifeCare Paramedics treated and transported Casarez and Elkins to Elyria Memorial Hospital for their injuries.

Smith and King were both transported to the Elyria City Jail. Smith was charged with Assault on a Police Officer (F-4), Resisting Arrest (M-1) and Underage Drinking (M-1). King was charged with Resisting Arrest (of another) (M-1).

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