A man who is accused of assault and battery with brass knuckles, also faces charges of transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, and attempting to elude a police officer.
John Douglas Phillips III was with his girlfriend at the 117 Lounge in Weatherford. Phillips girlfriend, Kristy Hollan, reportedly attempted to take an open container outside of the bar. The victim, who was the manager of the lounge, attempted to stop Hollan. Phillips allegedly got into the altercation, punching the victim in the face. The victim was not looking at Phillips at the time he got punched, but marks on the victims face indicate it wasn’t a bare fist which made contact, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
“I had bruising and scratches on the outside of my cheek and cuts on the inside where the inside of my mouth connected with my teeth,” the victim said at a hearing Thursday in Custer County District Court.
Police got a response from dispatch with the description of a gold-colored vehicle. As police hurried to their vehicles they got a glimpse of a vehicle matching the description of what was described by dispatch. The police followed the gold-colored pickup onto Interstate 40. Police activated there lights and the vehicle continued along Interstate 40 going 60 mph. When police activated their siren the vehicle pulled off to the side of the interstate. When searching Hollan police found a pair of brass knuckles, according to police records.
Police asked Phillips if he used the brass knuckles during the altercation, he said that he did not. A loaded handgun was also found in the floorboard of the 2006 Toyota.
Police later went back to the 117 Lounge to look at the video surveillance of the altercation. Police said Phillips did have something on his knuckles. It was unidentifiable what was on the suspect’s knuckles but police believed it to be brass knuckles, according to the affidavit.
Rings also were found on Phillips, the victim and police both indicated at the hearing on Thursday the object along Phillips knuckles could have been rings along Phillips fingers.
At the hearing Phillips, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, even if he didn’t use brass knuckles, the rings could have possibly been the reason for the damage on the victims face. Both police and the victim said it was very possible rings could have created the bruising and cuts along the victims face.
Phillips is set to appear for arraignment November 2.