A 52-year-old man is fighting for his life after being punched in the head Sunday night during an apparent fight outside The Harvester, a bar on Harvester Avenue.
Scott Baker suffered a fractured skull from a single punch, according to a police report filed at City Court.
He's listed in critical condition at Erie County Medical Center.
Taken into custody and held without bail on a second-degree assault charge is 47-year-old Shane M. Bell (in photo), of 161 Jackson St., Batavia.
Police were called to the scene at 8:50 p.m.
The Harvester was hosting its annual pig roast.
Bell made a sworn statement to police saying, "Scott followed me out to the car. Scott came up to me and chest bumped me. Scott grabbed my shoulder and I turned and punched him in the head."
Police officers also reported hearing Bell make several statements about hitting Baker, such as:
- "I bitch slapped him."
- "I hit him so f--- softly it's not even funny."
- "He went down quickly."
- "I hit him half medium."
- "I'm registered, man. I kick boxed for like seven years."
- "I hit him right in the f--- eye."
- "I used to f-- people up."
- "He was with me for more than three hours."
- "I dragged him from the curb to the grass."
A witness said she heard Bell say, "He pulled my hair so I punched him."
The same witness tried to give aide to Baker until EMTs arrived and told police there was a lot of blood.
Mercy medics told police on scene that Baker was seriously injured and Det. Pat Corona was called to the scene.
"We were told right away it was very serious," Corona said. "We proceeded (with the investigation at the scene) as if it was as serious as it could be, as if it were a homicide."
Corona said investigators are interested in talking with additional witnesses. He's asking that people with any information to call Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350.
I along with so many others
I along with so many others who enjoyed a day with their family and friends are so sickened and shocked by what happened. This was done by a bully who has this record of being such. There is always one person in the crowd to ruin it for everyone I hope Shane Bell receives the sentence he deserves he is a barbaric bully who could never take on a real man. We all hope this criminal is given the harshest sentence afforded to him by law. This man dragged the victim from the road and beat him while unconscious and does not belong in our society, a real sick individual.
Myself along with the hundreds of people who enjoyed a great day wish for the best for the victim and his family. This by no way is what this day is about its about a day of horseshoes, food, fun and music.
hence the reason I don't
hence the reason I don't attend events where there are drunk fools.. Hope victim makes a full recovery.
One of the reason's i chose
One of the reason's i chose to stay in. To much hate, thugs, now in Batavia, Ny. Right now Mr. Bell is facing assault charges, if Mr. Baker dies, it's upgraded to second degree murder.
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Aaron and Jason, its a
Aaron and Jason, its a mentality like that which pertpetuates the downward spiral of neighborhoods and communities. If you take your tactics in dealing with this you part of the problem. Refusal of going out and attending community events, neighborhood picnics and such just leaves it to the knuckleheads that do things like this.
People aren't powerless, the same apathy you get from the "authorities" they get as well. You can anonymously report criminal activity to the police. Make sure you dial 911 when doing so however, because all 911 communications are monitored by law and the thing those monitors look for are responses. If enough "good neighbors" get involved and back each other up then the police begin to take more active role over "troublemakers" But it takes being sociable and communication with your neighbors. If you don't try and just stay in then..... well you get the type of neighborhood you deserve then.
Nothing good ever comes for free.....and doesn't stay good without work.
By the way Jason......murder charge requires premeditation. If Mr. Baker passes, it would be manslaughter. Either way if gossip is true and Mr. Bell is a habitual bully and troublemaker I don't see him not doing some jail time. Especially with his own word in one of his alleged comments....("I'm registered, man. I kick boxed for like seven years." ) If he did receive formal training then a judge would hold him to a higher standard of conduct as formal training also usually includes instruction on the dangers of using the skills trained in outside of a structured competition.
Kyle , the guy laying in a
Kyle , the guy laying in a hospital bed ain't calling nobody to report anything anytime soon. Instead of calling the cops, someone should have stepped up and stopped this guy from beating on someone who was unconcious. Must be all the good neighbors stayed home.
The legal drug probably helped this altercation get started, but why would anyone expect any other outcome when you get a bunch of people all drugged up in hollering distance of each other.
Frank, to blame this all on
Frank, to blame this all on the alcohol served is to remove blame from the perpetrator. At some point today's society has to take responsibility for their own actions. We need to stop pointing fingers at the bars and stores and point them at the people that are consuming too much and causing trouble. Both of these men are grown men. Therefore the drug is not to blame. The man is. People with problems with addiction don't get help by blaming others. They have to assume responsibility for their own actions. If it was the drugs fault all people who consume alcohol would be doing this, and responsible drinkers are not. Lets place the blame where it belongs. As it is pointed out in an earlier post this person obviously has an anger issue
Kyle, just for record I don't
Kyle, just for record I don't stay in. I choose to do more family oriented things or just fish with my little boy. Being a single dad I choose to keep my little boy away from drunks. I don't think that makes me part of the problem.
Sorry donna but no one should
Sorry donna but no one should be serving anyone who is clearly intoxicated. That includes bars and even family/friends events. I have been in bars where bartenders refused to serve people. It is the right thing to do.
Good luck w that Aaron as I
Good luck w that Aaron as I have run into drunken fools everywhere including every worthwhile fishing spot in wny. As Lorie pointed out no one should have been drunk enough for something like this to happen. Yes Raymond if the first post from Scott is true then someone should have stopped this a$$hat from beating him, no reason that both calling the cops and stopping the beating couldn't have happened at the same time. But due to apathy it didn't. so it kind of a moot point at best.
Not only that Lorie, but it
Not only that Lorie, but it is ILLEGAL
http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/new-york-dram-shop-laws.h…
Donna, I wasn't blaming
Donna, I wasn't blaming alcohol, just saying it is a contributing factor,
and when you mix alcohol with a-holes, the result is never good.
You are correct to a point, people should be held accountable, but also
keep in mind, alcoholism is a disease, or simply put, another drug addiction.
At any rate, my point was more about ignorance than alcohol, and I would never suggest using alcohol as an argument for loss of self control, simply because the user/abuser was sober when they chose to use alcohol.
Now this morning on wbta I
Now this morning on wbta I heard the report about this story. It ended with a plea to the public from the police for witnesses to come forward to help.
Now in reading Scott Williams first post it seems to me considering the comments he made, especially about wanting to see Shane Bell punished for his actions it would seem he has an obligation to give the police a statement on what he saw. All stories I have seen said Bell hit Baker only once. Yet he says that he was beaten while unconscious. Seems the right thing to do, otherwise his rant on making Mr. Bell be held accountable punitively will be kinda diminished and sound hollow
If you have given a statement however, I apologize for any dispersions Scott that you didnt but we all know of people who complain in similar fashion, however when asked by police or investigators to document what they saw they suddenly decide they don't want to. But still complain anyways, that is a pet peeve of mine.
Scott is my friend.We went to
Scott is my friend.We went to my moms to see her had such a great time.Then on the train my Son told me.Scott was feeding our bird and watering our plants when we were gone.Scott is like my brother.This is tearing me up inside.He can't even move or speak or know if someone is there.I must go see him at ECMC.I will get there some how.If Scott was your friend show up to support him in city court tomorrow 9 am.
This story also makes me livid.I might be little but id have tried to help him had i been there.Why didn't any one help him?? :(....
If this story is true and he is a registered boxer his hands are lethal weapons.The fore it should be upgraded to 1st degree assault.
So sad.I'm not a narc but i guarantee if i was there id be coming forward to help Scott get the justice he deserves.
What about Scott's mom? Shes devastated.His Brother.All i can do is cry and pray.
Please pray for Him.
Can anyone confirm how many
Can anyone confirm how many times the victim was hit, cause if this much damage was done by one punch, my previous comment is moot.
May be if you were there and
May be if you were there and saw what happened to my friend like you say you did see him dragged.May be they'd re open the case.I do not think there were any witnesses not in court.Justice was not served here.I know even if he werent my friend id feel a duty to come forward.