Syracuse Boater Charged with Breaking Man's Jaw in Fight
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Kaitie Vanderpool-
A Syracuse man was arrested Thursday after breaking a man’s jaw during a dispute earlier this month. According to an affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department officer responded to a report of a fight in progress at 877 E. North Shore Drive, Syracuse. The officer spoke with the victim, whose face was swollen, left eye was bruised and who had several broken teeth with blood coming from his mouth. The officer noted it also appeared the left side of his jaw was broken. The victim said he was in his boat on the lake and observed another boat with no lights on. The man told the officer he suggested the driver turn the lights on and then recognized the boat’s operator as Justin Forrest Plank, 37, Syracuse, who then yelled an obscenity at him. The victim told police he then docked his boat and walked down to Plank’s residence to resolve the issue. The man stated he approached Plank with his hands down in a non-threatening way and alleged Plank punched him in his face three to four times without warning and the man said he immediately fell to the ground where Plank continued to kick him. The victim was taken to the hospital where it was confirmed he had a broken jaw. The officer spoke to a witness, who stated she was on her dock when the victim came running up the pier and threw her on the ground, and the victim and Plank began shoving each other and Plank shoved the victim into the water. The witness said the victim got out of the water and charged at Plank, who then punched and kicked him. The officer observed the witness had a large bruise forming on her right forearm. The officer then spoke with Plank, who said he was on his boat on the lake and the boat lights were not working. He said the victim approached him in his boat and yelled at him for having no lights. Plank said he then docked his boat and the victim came up to him and pushed him and told him we was going to jail. Plank said he then shoved the victim into the water and the victim got out of the water and came at him again and he hit and kicked the man. Plank was arrested Thursday on a charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and held on a $4,000 bond.
