Warsaw police are looking for 28-year-old Joe Garret Swanson after an early morning bar fight today in Warsaw that left one man in serious condition.
Because of the seriousness of the injuries, Swanson has been charged with aggravated battery, a Class B felony. If convicted Swanson could spend six to 20 years in prison.
At 1:25 a.m. WPD received a call of a bar fight at Rex’s Rendezvous, 204 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw. As two officers approached, they observed Swanson, who was known to them, striking another man in the head.
The victim was identified as 28-year-old Nicholas S. Phillips. Phillips was taken to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital in serious condition.
After contacting Lutheran Hospital, the Times-Union was informed that Phillips has been upgraded to fair condition.
After being treated and transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital by Multi Township EMS, Phillips was then transported to Lutheran Hospital with facial and head injuries as a result of being struck by Swanson, who was previously involved in Mixed Martial Arts fighting.
While police were attempting to detain all the persons involved in the incident, Swanson fled the scene on foot. He later called in to the Warsaw Police Department and spoke with one the officers, but refused to return.
A third person involved in the incident, Ryan Paul Schultz, 26, of Warsaw, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Schultz’s bond was $355 cash and has since bonded out.
