CRESTVIEW — A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with battery, touch or strike, following a Fourth of July altercation in Twin Hills Park.
Justin Ray Smith of First Avenue allegedly struck a man on the side of the head during the city’s centennial fireworks display, knocking him unconscious.
Smith’s girlfriend said the victim threw fireworks at her, according to a Crestview police report. The victim was transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center.
Video footage from Twin Hills Park security cameras showed a “verbal altercation” between the victim and Smith’s girlfriend, according to the report.
“The defendant is then seen running toward the victim and then strikes the victim in the side of the head, causing the victim to fall to the ground unconscious,” Smith’s arrest report states.
“Several bystanders then jump on the defendant and strike him several times,” the report stated.
Smith and his girlfriend declined to complete written statements, but “the defendant was remorseful and stated he was truly sorry for striking the victim,” the report stated.
Smith was taken to the Okaloosa County Jail and was released on $500 bail.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man jailed after Fourth of July fight at Twin Hills Park