Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Four men were arrested on charges of felony aggravated battery after allegedly jumping two men, including an Illinois sheriff's deputy, outside The Frog Tavern at Syracuse.
Syracuse police responded to a 12:54 a.m. Sunday call at the establishment, where the two victims were reportedly assaulted in the parking lot.
Chad Harris, no age available, of Illinois, suffered a "severe head injury," according to Syracuse Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski, and was admitted to Goshen General Hospital, where information on his condition was not available at press time today.
Anthony Petrancosta, 25, of Illinois, was treated at the scene for his injuries.
Nine people were reportedly kicked out of The Frog for fighting prior to the incident involving Harris and Petrancosta. The four men arrested allegedly remained in the parking lot and apparently chose Harris and Petrancosta because they were still looking for a fight and the two men were the next people to leave the bar, Perzanowski said.
At the onset of the incident, Perzanowski said, Petrancosta identified himself as a Cook County, Ill., sheriff's deputy and pulled out his police identification. The assailants reportedly said that didn't matter and continued to assault Petrancosta and Harris.
Harris was reportedly unconscious on the ground when one of the men allegedly gave him "a flying kick to the head," Perzanowski said.
The four men then got into two vehicles and drove away. Petrancosta was able to get the license plate numbers and descriptions of the vehicles, which were dispatched for Ligonier and Noble County police to watch for. The suspects were located at a Ligonier bar a short time later, police said, and were returned to Syracuse, where they were identified by Petrancosta as his and Harris' assailants.
Charged with felony aggravated battery and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail were:
• Dale Christopher Cooper, 29, of 3757 N. CR 900W #192, Cromwell;
• Bryan Donald Cooper, 27, Fort Wayne;
• John Michael Brewster, 29, Ligonier; and
• Paul Larry Luna, 24, Rome City.
Three of the four men posted a $5,000 bond and were released from incarceration. The fourth remains in custody on a $5,000 bond.
