Four arrested in downtown beating

Police arrested four men early this morning for beating and robbing a 22-year-old Kansas City man in the 1000 block of Mass. Street. The man and his girlfriend were getting into a vehicle about 2:15 a.m. in the parking lot near 11th and Mass. when a group of men nearby made a comment to his girlfriend, according to a report. “He made a comment back to them, at which point they came toward him, surrounded him, struck him in the head with a beer bottle, and then proceeded to hit and kick him,” LPD spokesman Sgt. Dan Ward said.The man also had $20 stolen from his wallet. Witnesses saw the group of men get into a vehicle, which was stopped by police a short distance away.Arrested were Francis Paul Dressler of Linwood and Eudora residents Michael J. Jeffcoat, Jared D. Randel, Brandon Lee Werst. All are age 20.They were being held without bond this morning in the Douglas County Jail for aggravated robbery, battery and disorderly conduct.Other news:¢ Someone broke a glass door at Pinckney Elementary, 810 W. Sixth St., around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, causing $500 damage.¢ Between 8 a.m. Tuesday and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, someone stole 10 60-foot rolls of copper tubing belonging to the city from a garage at 700 W. Second St. The tubing was valued at more than $2,600.-Contributed by [Eric Weslander.][1] [1]: www2.ljworld.com/staff/eric_weslander