ST. GEORGE — A man faces aggravated assault and other charges following an incident that was initially reported as a brawl in the parking lot of an apartment complex over the weekend.
Officers responded to an apartment complex on North Dixie Drive in St. George shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday on what was initially reported as a disorderly call involving 20 men reportedly fighting in the parking lot. One suspect was seen with a bat, according to one caller, while another said they saw rocks being thrown during the altercation and damaged at least one vehicle parked at the complex, according to charging documents filed with the court.
Authorities say, according to witness accounts, the altercation started with a conflict between two juveniles and escalated into an altercation between the parents, during which one of the parents began recording with their cellphone. When the phone was thrown to the ground, a physical fight between the minors and the parents ensued.
The parties separated to de-escalate the situation, the report alleges, but shortly thereafter, one suspect, Augusto Cesar Reyes-Campos, 43, went to the other party’s apartment and started banging on the door with a rock.
When there was no response, Campos continued to throw rocks at the door, police say, which is when the tenant stepped outside wielding a wooden baseball bat. As he walked down the stairs, Campos continued throwing rocks in the direction of the door, as well as toward the tenant and the juvenile standing nearby, according to the report.
Both the tenant and juvenile sustained injuries from the alleged attack, including extensive swelling to the tenant’s knee and a rib injury to the juvenile. The barrage of rocks also caused significant damage to the tenant’s apartment door and surrounding area.
The report states all parties were cited for their involvement in the disturbance. Campos was arrested and booked into jail on second-degree felony aggravated assault and third-degree felony aggravated child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. He also faces a misdemeanor property damage offense for the damage to the apartment door.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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