FARGO – A Fargo man faces a felony assault charge after police say he taunted a man sitting in front of a downtown bar for being homeless before beating him unconscious.
The incident attracted the attention of people in the 300 block of Broadway. Several called 911 about 9:44 p.m. Friday to report it, according to documents filed Monday in Cass County District Court.
One witness, Febronio Monjares, told an officer that the unconscious man lying facedown on the sidewalk had moments before been sitting on a bench nearby when four men walked past him.
The four began to taunt the man on the bench for being homeless, Monjares told Officer Justin Harken, so David Robinson stood up and told them to leave him alone.
That's when one of the foursome walking by, Damon Kyle Taylor, of Fargo, punched Robinson in the jaw with a closed fist, knocking him unconscious when he fell backwards and hit his head on the ground, police allege in court records.
ADVERTISEMENT
Robinson didn't regain consciousness for several minutes and was taken to Sanford Medical Center when it was found he couldn't speak, both from his injuries and his high level of intoxication, court records state
Police found the four men, including Taylor, in the nearby Empire Bar, where they headed after assaulting Robinson, documents state.
Taylor admitted being in the area, but told police he didn't assault anyone.
His friends insisted they were not involved, although they told police they saw Robinson on the ground.
Taylor, 22, was charged with aggravated assault, a Class C felony.
Taylor's next court appearance has not yet been set.
