UPDATE: 2:57 p.m. Wednesday – Winfield Chief Danny Parker contacted NewsCow with some additional information in regard to the incident Monday night.
Whitesell, 25, told police that the injured man – who Parker identified as Christopher Minor – had been trying to pick a fight with Whitesell and followed him outside the bar.
Whitesell told police he punched Minor once when Minor refused to back off. After police arrived at the bar they arrested Whitesell on a disorderly conduct charge.
But investigators determined the incident was more serious when Minor’s family informed police that Minor was in a Wichita hospital with significant injuries. The hospital said the injured man suffered broken vertebrae in the neck area, a broken nose and broken eye socket.
Parker said the charge against Whitesell later was raised to aggravated assault because the injuries seemed inconsistence with a single punch being thrown.
It’s not clear yet who started the fight but Parker said Whitesell is a big man and thus it was not apparent why he would feel threatened by Minor.
Minor is in fair condition at Wesley, a hospital spokesperson said.
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A Winfield man was arrested late Monday and is accused of beating up a mentally retarded man who had to be taken to a Wichita hospital, sources told NewsCow.
The incident occurred just before midnight at Hot Shotz bar, 314 W. Eighth, in Winfield, according to police and jail records.
Michael L. Whitesell was arrested for aggravated battery and an outstanding warrant. His bond was $5,000 and he was able to bond out on Tuesday, according to a jail spokesperson.
The injured man ? whose name has not been released ? was a resident of Mosaic, a provider of care for the developmentally disabled. A spokesperson for Mosaic confirmed a resident had been injured and hospitalized at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
The man is his own guardian and enjoys playing pool. He was at the bar with his brother when the incident occurred, the spokesperson said.
Mosaic officials expect that the resident ? who is reported to have suffered injuries to his face ? will be released from the hospital and return home Wednesday.
