A Johnston man was arrested on a Dallas County warrant Tuesday in connection with two assaults that allegedly occurred June 24 in a West Des Moines night club.
Chayton Matthew French, 21, of 8620 Crescent Chase Dr., Johnston, was charged with public intoxication and two counts of assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.
French first came to the attention of law enforcement about 11:45 p.m. June 23 in the 5400 block of Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines, where officers of the West Des Moines Police Department allegedly observed French “stumbling and not being able to walk in a straight line,” according to court records.
Officers made contact with French, who allegedly presented “a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath,” and he “displayed bloodshot/watery eyes and had slurred speech,” according to court records.
French was arrested for public intoxication and released after posting a $300 cash or surety bond.
French came to the attention of law enforcement again June 25 in the 6200 block of Raccoon River Drive in West Des Moines, where officers of the West Des Moines Police Department were shown surveillance video of a bar fight at the Beach Girls tavern that occurred about 3:30 a.m. June 24.
On the video, French allegedly “intentionally punched” two men “in the face with a closed fist, causing pain, redness and swelling,” according to court records. The officers recognized French “from an arrest hours before” because “he was wearing the same clothing.”
A warrant for French’s arrest was ordered June 25 in Dallas County District Court and served June 29. French was held in the Dallas County Jail prior to his release on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a hearing July 1 in Polk County District Court on the public intoxication charge and for arraignment Aug. 12 in Dallas County District Court on the assault charges.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
