By COLLIN STORK
Student Reporter
A brawl at the Nite Lite has led to four Northwestern Oklahoma State University students being charged with a misdemeanor of assault and battery and one student in the hospital.
The men were charged on Feb. 9 with misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment of up to 90 days, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. An arrest warrant has been issued for Corey Hornbeak. The other three have posted bond and their court date is set for March 13.
The Nite Lite is a small bar and night club at 1220 Lane St. just outside of the Alva city limits and it is where Deputy Ethan McOsker arrived at 2 a.m. on Jan. 28.
He was told that the members involved in the fight were members of the NWOSU football team and they had not yet been identified.
McOsker then went to Share Medical Center where Garrett Scott Lagan had been transported by ambulance, Lagan stated that he had been attempting to break up the fight and was rushed by a group of men from the crowd that knocked him down and continued to punch and kick him.
McOsker and Undersheriff Keith Dale reviewed video obtained from the Nite Lite and Dale contacted head football coach Matt Walters to help identify the football players.
Walters told Dale that Corey Hornbeak Jr., 19, of Oklahoma City, admitted to being involved in the fight and was dismissed from the team immediately. Hornbeak left Alva before he could be interviewed.
Edward Baley Garza, 20, of Sanger, TX, was interviewed on Thursday, Feb. 1 by Dale and the affidavit states that Garza admitted his involvement in the fight but elected the right to an attorney before any further statement was given.
The next day, Walters identified the final two involved in the fight as Joshua Parton, 21, of Anadarko and Kentrez Bell, 19, of Kansas City, Missouri. Parton and Bell were brought in separately and both admitted their involvement in the fight.