Saline police seek charges against man accused of hurting friend in drunken fight
Saline police are seeking assault charges against a 23-year-old man who they say seriously injured a friend during a drunken fight at a Saline park, reports said.
The fight was first reported by Milan police who responded to an ambulance request in their jurisdiction shortly after 2 a.m. on April 13. A 32-year-old Ypsilanti man was at his mother’s residence suffering from major injuries to his face, including a right eye that was completely swollen shut. He was highly intoxicated and covered in dried blood, reports said.
The man said he was with a friend and two women in a Saline park when his friend attacked him, but he had a difficult time remembering where they were and what exactly happened.
He was taken by Huron Valley Ambulance to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township and diagnosed with a severe fracture to his eye socket that threatened future use of the eye and required surgery, according to reports.
Due to his condition, the responding officers had difficulty tracing the events that led to the injury but determined he and his childhood friend were drinking both liquor and beer in a Saline park when the friend accused him of saying something about his daughter and punched him in the face, reports said.
The victim fell to the ground, and the suspect climbed on top of him and continued to beat his face for several minutes, police said. The man said he nearly lost consciousness and could hardly remember getting back into the suspect’s car with the women and being driven to his mother’s house in Milan.
Police interviewed the women, who confirmed that the argument continued in the vehicle on the way to Milan and escalated to the point that the suspect stopped the car in the middle of a road. He reportedly got out of the car, walked to the passenger side and punched the bleeding victim in the face again after opening the door, they said.
Officers interviewed the suspect, a Saline resident, who accused the victim of saying negative things about his daughter and throwing the first punch. He also appeared to have some bruising to his face and knuckles, reports said.
The victim was released from the hospital and is recovering. He still has a hard time remembering much of the assault said Detective Don Lupi.
“It’s something that we see all too often — the mixing of alcohol and violence — and in this case it led to very serious injuries and unfortunate consequences,” Lupi said.
The case is under review by prosecutors.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
S
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 12:30 a.m.
We already have signs in most the parks saying they aren't open after dark. Most people know. And no we don't have enough cops to patrol every cop every half hour, but the Saline cops do an excellent job of it. I have a quick anecdote of how much our police officers really do patrol. Once me and my friend went to go chat at night at a nearby park (yes it really was just chatting - it was very late, so we couldn't catch up at either of our houses, and I was only back from college for the weekend.) I warned my friend we would be told to move very quickly, but he didn't believe the police would actual come check very often. Within an hour, a police car that had come to check the park came over to question us. Once it became clear we really were just talking, and not doing anything wrong, the officer told us to move along to maybe a parking lot or somewhere not closed. We parked somewhere else, I think it was a parking lot, and within 10 minutes a completely different police officer drove by and came over to check us out again, without knowing we had just been talked to! We didn't get in any trouble of course, but I always see that as a shining example of our local officers, and it makes me sleep pretty soundly knowing that even when there isn't any crime at that moment, our officers are out prevent crimes by checking suspicious things. I digress. My point is, they check the parks a lot. There really isn't anything else anyone can do really; other than neighbors of the park being on the watch. I'd like some of the names. Aren't you allowed to name the accused? Also, to RJA- you can't say pot is bad for someone because A DRUG hurt someone anymore than you can say that about caffeine. If I had to guess, I doubt the drug the parents were on was marijuana. Or caffeine for that matter. I've also heard stories of drunk parents doing worse to their child, so I don't think it should be a stretch to legalize pot if alcohol is legal.
Ricebrnr
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
With fronds like that who need anemones?
drut_ferguson
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
Gallant drives his injured friend home. Goofus stops the car in the middle of the road and punches his injured friend in the face.
RJA
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
Sad situation! Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence do not mix, many fights are due to this mixture. (many other types of crime too) Apparently this happened between 1 a.m. 2 a.m. in the Saline park. Milan nor Saline have enough officers to make every half hour runs through them. I wonder if each city can have large signs made up, (Park open from dawn to dusk) or (Park closed after dark) Now really, what does one do after dark in a park? Make Pot legal? No Way! Why? I heard last evening that a 1-2 year old child was walking on a main road. When police found the parents, they were high on drugs. (Very Sad)
actionjackson
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
Drugs....Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco, let's see which one of these could cause parents to let a child run loose at night. How did pot come into this picture?
ffej440
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
It had to have happend earlier, Saline parks are closed and locked at night. Also note there is NO drinking booze allowed at any park in Saline. The story you "heard" last evening sounds like BS to me. The constant spreading of these false stories are what keeps driving this insane"Reefer Madness".There is no pot in the world that would make you so stoned you could forget your child.
shumom23
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
Out law alcohol . it brings on violence and drunk driving Legalize pot it doesnt
Ricebrnr
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
"It's something that we see all too often — the mixing of alcohol and violence — and in this case it led to very serious injuries and unfortunate consequences," Hmmm....important lessons there
lloydering
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 6:17 a.m.
you mediators slay me.......i find it hard to believe you come from a hip town like Ann Arbor and not Mayberry RFD 40 years ago. Lets all put on party hats give a group hug hold hands and sing the kim-ba-yaa song.................................Whinningggggggggg
frozenhotchocolate
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 6:13 a.m.
People of such class and dignity really belong on AnnArbor.com. I just wish stupid things I did when I was drunk got press coverage. These people are winner.
Jim
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:43 a.m.
I thought Saline parks are for Saline residents only.
actionjackson
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Is that right? Kind of like Dearborn tried to do. If that's the case where the parks are for Saline residents only then so should the shops and restaurants be for Saline residents only! We welcome all to our parks and business establishments in Ann Arbor as we are a friendly bunch.
the leprachaun
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:17 a.m.
Can we have info on what park it was?
Salinemary
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
Nice people.