Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Bar fights and increased surveillance were the topic of discussion among Eddy County officials during their monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 7.
At the meeting, Eddy County State's Attorney Ashley Lies told commissioners that charges would soon be filed regarding the Sept. 4 bar fight at Buck-It’s Bar in downtown New Rockford. Those charges were announced the following Wednesday.
Jeremy Martin, Shawna Dockter and Chance Labrie were charged with disorderly conduct in violation of N.D.C.C. 12.1-31-01, a Class B misdemeanor. Meanwhile, Jordan Martin was charged with simple assault and aggravated assault, a Class B misdemeanor and Class C felony, respectively.
According to the complaints filed in Eddy County District Court, the defendants allegedly first got into an altercation with several other individuals inside Buck-it’s Bar shortly before 2 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2021. They then exited the bar, and once outside Jordan Martin allegedly struck another man hard enough to cause him to fall backwards and crack his head on the concrete sidewalk. The victim was treated at the CHI St. Alexius Carrington emergency room, where he received staples and stitches in his head as a result, court documents said.
Meanwhile, a fight allegedly broke out between Jeremy Martin and Chance Labrie, alarming individuals within and outside the bar. Dockter allegedly confronted Jordan Martin and shoved him inside the bar prior to the fight outside the bar.
In an email to the Transcript Wednesday, States Attorney Lies added, “A criminal information was filed against another individual involved for inciting a riot. The Judge did not find probable cause, so the case was closed. Our office is reviewing the reports for possible other charges against that individual.”
In North Dakota, a Class B misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 30 days imprisonment, a $1,500 fine, or both. Meanwhile, a Class C felony carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The recent bar fights have raised the prospect of increasing the amount of surveillance in New Rockford. According to Sheriff Lies, additional surveillance downtown has already proven effective in the apprehension of a juvenile responsible for using spray paint to vandalize the school, local businesses and private property in New Rockford.
As was recently reported by the Transcript, a local business owner has agreed to the placement of cameras on their property, which would be in full view of Buck-It’s Bar. In the meantime, Sheriff Lies has directed his deputies to make their presence known downtown.
“Maybe if people know they’ll be on camera, they won’t be doing as much as they are now,” said Sheriff Lies at the meeting. “We have talked to the owner of [Buck-it's Bar], and the deputies have also been instructed on Friday and Saturday night to go into the bar and make their presence known.”
Money for additional surveillance cameras, which have been proposed for the courthouse, Centennial Park, and other locations around New Rockford, could come from a variety of sources.
According to Sheriff Lies, the city commissioners have agreed to provide $1,800 for additional cameras, while county commissioners suggested utilizing the roughly $45,000 in CARES Act funds left over after the courthouse’s basement remodel.
Other business at the meeting included an update from Monty Schaefer regarding renovations to the Rosefield Dam, as well as a motion carried to give Eddy County Auditor Patty Williams the authority to request roughly $30,000 available through the American Recovery Plan Act.
During discussion on what to do with the additional funds, the suggestion was made to put it towards the New Rockford street improvement project.
To close the meeting, the commissioners carried a motion to approve the prices of three delinquent tax properties, including the former Mill Pump property along the U.S. Hwy 281, as well as a motion to approve Eddy County’s state fair delegates. This year’s delegates are Tiffany Munson and Glenda Collier.
The next Eddy County Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 8:30 a.m., while the delinquent tax sale won’t be held until Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
