A local man was arrested Sunday morning on a felony battery charge after allegedly beating another man outside a nightclub, causing injuries that left him in critical condition.
Lee Whitaker Riddley III, 30, of 220 Jefferson St., was taken into custody at his residence around 9 a.m. and charged with second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years in prison. Riddley, who also had a warrant for failure to comply, was being held on $27,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police responded to Boot Scooters, 421 Broadway St., to a battery where the male victim was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs before the officers arrived and the suspect had fled the scene.
A security employee of the club stated the victim had been ejected from the club for violating a club rule and was yelling profanity at patrons while being escorted out of the building. He said the man remained irate after leaving and began arguing with an unknown man standing near the front entrance.
The employee noted he saw the victim displaying "what he knows to be gang signs" and then heard the victim and the other man both say they were going to get their weapons from their vehicles.
At that point, the employee said he saw the man walk up to the victim and punch him twice in the head, causing him to collapse to the ground unconscious. The man then left quickly in his vehicle.
Surveillance footage was reviewed and Sgt. Lonell Lenox reportedly identified the suspect as Riddley and a warrant was soon issued for his arrest.
The victim was diagnosed with a brain bleed at the hospital and was rushed into surgery, the affidavit states. He is currently in the intensive care unit where he is listed in critical condition.
Local on 05/08/2018