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Man facing assault charge

FAIRMONT — A Fairmont man is facing a felony charge in Martin County.

Lazarous Lazaro Thomas, 22, has been charged with assault in the third degree, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On Sept. 17, a Fairmont police officer was dispatched to the emergency room at Mayo-Fairmont to investigate an assault. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a juvenile male, who reported that Thomas had assaulted him a few minutes prior at the library in Fairmont. The juvenile said he was standing outside, in front of the library, when Thomas walked up to him and started “talking smack.”

The juvenile said Thomas then pushed him, causing him to hit his head against the light pole. The juvenile said that after Thomas pushed him, Thomas began hitting him and he swung back in self-defense.

The officer asked where Thomas hit him and the juvenile pointed to his mouth, which was open. The officer observed the juvenile had a front tooth missing and his mouth was bleeding. The juvenile said he lost the tooth because of one of Thomas’ punches, and that another one of his teeth was loose.

The juvenile identified several witnesses to the incident and the officer spoke to four witnesses. All witnesses said Thomas walked up to the juvenile, started talking to him, pushed him into a light pole and then started hitting him. All four witnesses said the juvenile swung back at Thomas after Thomas started hitting him.

The officer then interviewed Thomas, who was read his rights and agreed to answer questions. Thomas said the juvenile spit at him and pushed him, and he then pushed him into the light pole. Thomas said the juvenile punched him in the face and his glasses fell off. Thomas said he hit the juvenile one time in the face. The officer told Thomas he had broken the juvenile’s tooth and Thomas indicated he did not know that. Thomas showed the officer a cut on his right hand and replied, “Probably. Yeah.” Thomas was placed under arrest.

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