Lawrence police looking for 2 suspects after man injured in downtown fight; 3rd suspect in custody
photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World
A 34-year-old man is in custody following a fight Saturday that rendered a 40-year-old man unconscious, according to Lawrence police, and officers are looking for 2 other suspects in the incident.
Officers were called just before 3:30 p.m. to the 700 block of Vermont Street, where witnesses reported the unconscious man on the ground.
Initially, the information provided indicated that the injured man had started an altercation that involved several people physically fighting on the east sidewalk, police said in a Facebook post Monday. Participants were interviewed and released pending further investigation.
However, the injured man was later able to provide a statement at the hospital that contradicted the information officers received on scene. Officers were able to locate video and more witnesses that corroborated the injured man’s version of events, which showed he was punched and kicked repeatedly, including after being knocked unconscious.
Officers were able to track down one of the suspects, 34-year-old Samuel Carr Smits, and arrested him on suspicion of aggravated battery, but they still seek to arrest a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man, who remain at large.
The injured man was released later in the day after receiving care.