Two men were arrested early Saturday morning for fighting in the parking lot of Neon Therapy Country Club. One of the combatants was also charged with assaulting a public servant after allegedly striking a paramedic who had been called to the scene to assist him.
Justin Holman, 22, was charged with disorderly conduct-fighting in a public place, while Mark Flanigan, 27, was charged with disorderly conduct-fighting in a public place, disorderly conduct-language and assaulting a public servant.
Detective Daniel Franklin of the Jacksonville Police Department said the incident started outside Neon Country about 2:45 a.m.
“According to both Flanigan and a female victim, the woman and Holman had been having a discussion outside when Flanigan observed Holman hitting the female,” Franklin said. “Flanigan decided to assist the female and struck Holman with a closed fist — which caused a fight to break out in the parking lot.”
Franklin said that at the conclusion of the fight, Flanigan began convulsing into seizures, and EMS was dispatched to the scene.
“When EMS arrived and they attempted to help Flanigan, he stood up and became combative, flailing his arms and punching one of the paramedics in the mouth as they were trying to restrain and assist him,” Franklin said.
Responding officers struggled to bring the subject under control, eventually spraying him with a burst of pepper spray. Flanigan was taken to a local hospital and treated before being transported to the police station and booked into jail. Franklin reported the subject continued to be combative at the hospital, “cussing and hollering” at the hospital staff.
Neither of the men involved in the fight nor the paramedic suffered any serious injuries from the incident.
The female victim in the original altercation has decided not to pursue additional assault charges against Holman. Both men received citations for their Class-C misdemeanor disorderly conduct counts, and Flanigan’s bond was set at $10,000 for attacking the paramedic.
Five buildings burglarized over weekend; JPD investigating
JPD is also investigating a slew of burglaries which occurred around town last weekend. Five buildings were burglarized this weekend — one business, one church and three residences.
The owner of Rowe Plant Farm notified police his business had been broken into and his locks had been cut, but at the time the report was made he was unsure about what had been taken. Police were called to the scene Friday morning and say they have yet to identify a suspect.
“There was a break-in at the First Presbyterian Church on South Bolton, Saturday morning. Somebody made entry into the church through a window in the alleyway, then vandalized the church while inside,” Franklin said. “They used fire extinguishers in numerous rooms inside the church. They then went inside the kitchen area, removed food from the pantry, ate most of it and threw the rest throughout the church.”
Franklin said about $1,500 worth of computer equipment and video games were stolen from a house in the 800 block of West Pine Street, Saturday around noon. He said the stolen items were located in the vicinity of the crime scene before he had even finished processing the house.
“Officer (Daniel) Burrow checked the exterior of the residence while I was inside processing the burglary scene. He located an unoccupied residence for rent right behind the residence where the burglary took place, and inside the utility room of that building he found the stolen property,” Franklin said. “That property was taken from the scene at that time and is being processed for any latent evidence. We don’t have any suspects in the crime at this time.
Police believe a “large amount of firearms” were stolen Friday afternoon from a home in the 800 block of Alameda Street. Efforts are being made to contact the homeowners so an inventory of stolen items can be made.
About $1,200 in jewelry and cash was also taken from a residence in the 600 block of Kickapoo Street. Franklin said a back door was kicked in to gain entry, and the homeowners returned home Saturday night to find their belongings gone.
“Right around this time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the burglaries usually start picking up. A lot of people are starting to do their Christmas shopping, so burglars know that there is likely to be a lot of stuff there that they will have easy access to,” he said. “Now is the time for homeowners to be aware of that and to make sure they keep the doors and windows locked.”
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