Dickerson pleads not guilty to assault

FARMINGTON — A man accused of seriously injuring another man in a local bar entered a plea of not guilty in court Friday.

Bryan Dickerson, 38, of Farmington, waived his right to have the charge read to him and pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree assault. The case was passed to Oct. 17 for the filing of pre-trial motions and trial setting.

The grand jury indictment states that Dickerson caused serious injury to a 60-year-old man by beating him. The incident occurred June 3 in a Farmington bar.

According to witness accounts in the court file, Dickerson made several attempts to pick a fight with the man. They said each time he attempted to start a fight, bar patrons pulled Dickerson off, restrained him and told him to leave.

Witnesses told police Dickerson struck the man causing him to hit the floor. Witnesses said Dickerson pounded on the man until he was restrained by bar patrons.

Both men were taken to the hospital for treatment. Dickerson was treated for lacerations to his eyes and then was placed in police custody. Police reportedly detected a strong odor of intoxicants on Dickerson’s breath and on him.

The police department later took a report from a man claiming he had been punched by Dickerson at another bar only a few blocks away from where the 60-year-old man was later assaulted.

There are several written statements made by witnesses in the court file.