Two men arrested on alcohol-related charges in Kay County, Okla. are now facing Cowley County charges in connection with the beating of Bart Canaday Monday, authorities said Tuesday.
Lynn James Johnson Jr., 30, and Dakota Don Bailey, 23, are each charged with a single count of aggravated battery ? a level 4 felony, Cowley County undersheriff Bill Mueller said. Johnnson Jr. and Bailey remained in the custody of Kay County Tuesday afternoon, Oklahoma officials said.
Local sheriff’s investigators believe the two men got into an argument with Canaday at Outlawz Bar and Grill ? a drinking establishment south of Ark City on the stateline.
The argument turned violent and Johnson Jr. and Bailey are accused of beating Canaday outside the bar at 33947 61st Rd.
The two suspects fled the scene and later were arrested in Oklahoma on various alcohol-related charges. Bond was set but Cowley County had placed a hold on the two men so that they were not released from custody, Kay County officials said.
Canaday was listed in critical condition early Tuesday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Mueller, however, indicated the man was at least was well enough, later in the day, to communicate with investigators in the case. A hospital spokesperson said no further updates on the man’s condition would be given because his information was listed as protected.
