Three men were arrested Sunday for assault after they cornered a man near a downtown bar.
A Bowling Green police officer on patrol observed an altercation in the 100 block of North Main Street at approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday.
The officer observed three males fighting a single male, according to the Bowling Green Police Division report.
The victim, a 21-year-old from Monroe, Michigan, was cornered against a doorway with his hands covering his head to protect himself from being struck.
The fight stopped as the officer arrived and three men began walking away. They complied when told to stop and immediately began stating the person they were fighting had used racial remarks against them, according to the report.
A staff member at Doc’s told police two of the men initially refused to leave the bar when told to do so.
An independent witness to the altercation was able to provide video footage of the incident that showed Jaidyn Thiel lunge at the man and strike him with a closed fist. Jonathan Lambrite and Carter Burdue immediately rushed forward and also began punching the man.
At one point, Lambrite, whose right arm is in a sling, is pulled away and Burdue appears to check the area as bystanders approach, the video showed.
Lambrite charged forward again and delivered another round of punches. Thiel and Lambrite continue to strike the man until someone yells there is a cop and the officer’s voice can be heard yelling for them to stop, the video showed.
Thiel and Lambrite back away but Burdue steps forward and appears to strike the man again.
The victim told police that when he and his friend exited the bar, he got into a verbal argument with Lambrite. He told police Lambrite and Thiel began harassing his friend so he stepped in to get them to stop. He stated he told Lambrite to hit him and he would fight back and then he was struck from behind, according to the police report.
A review of the downtown camera system showed Lambrite and Thiel were removed from the bar at 2:16 a.m. and the victim and his friend exited shortly after. At one point, the victim pushed Lambrite backwards. Thiel took the first swing and knocked the victim’s hat off.
The left side of the man’s head appeared to be red and swollen.
Thiel and Lambrite, both 21 and from Upper Sandusky, were arrested for assault.
Carter Burdue, 21, Napoleon, also was arrested for assault.
The three men were taken to jail and posted bond Monday.
