A former Bowling Green man wanted for his alleged involvement in a riot last year has been released from jail on an own recognizance bond.
Josh Miller, 22, currently of Sylvania, was transported from the jail last week to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Molly Mack.
A warrant was issued for his arrest after he was indicted in August 2021 for aggravated riot and felonious assault.
Miller allegedly was involved in an assault of a man on the sidewalk in the 100 block of North Main Street at around 1:20 a.m. on July 11, 2021. According to court documents, six men, including Miller, punched him and knocked him to the ground. Once on the ground, they continued to punch, kick and stomp the man until he was unconscious.
A group of four good Samaritans attempted to get the group of assailants off the man, and they were then assaulted, according to the indictment. A man sustained serious injuries after being slammed on his head on the sidewalk before being punched and kicked multiple times. He suffered cracked and broken teeth, a jaw injury, bruised ribs and several gashes to his face and body, according to court documents.
The group also reportedly chased and assaulted another man, punching him, slamming him to the ground and kicking him.
Defense attorney Lawrence Gold said the court had an address of Bowling Green for his client, but he had not lived there for a significant amount of time, creating an issue with servicing paperwork.
Miller was arrested Dec. 1.
Gold entered pleas of not guilty on behalf of Miller and requested an own recognizance bond.
Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lara Rump did not object, but asked for a no-contact order with Miller’s five co-defendants.
Mack granted the request and scheduled the first pretrial for Jan. 9.
