Mikel Baker, 40, of Bonita Drive, has been charged with felonious assault for the alleged attack. He is scheduled to appear in Middletown Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, according to court records.
Police said the assault occurred on Nov. 29 at a crowded Eastern Lanes, 6943 Coles Road, when two groups of bowlers got into an argument. Middletown police Lt. Scott Reeve said the victim was bowling and tried to put a hard spin on his ball. When he let it go, the ball went from his bowling lane and into the next one, messing up another group’s game, Reeve said.
Words were exchanged between the two groups, and then punches were thrown, according to the police report.
“Mikel Baker (then) grabbed an eight-pound bowling ball and ran up to (the victim), and when he was in very close range, threw the ball into the back of his head; knocked him out,” Reeve said.
Paramedics transported the victim to Atrium Medical Center for treatment, and he was later taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
“He could’ve been killed,” Reeve said.
The victim and his wife declined comment when contacted by this newspaper.
Police said about four to six people from both groups were involved in the altercation, and about 75 people, including young children, were in the bowling alley when the fight broke out.
“If you were there with your children, and a fight like this erupts where somebody is assaulting another person with a bowling ball, that’s very scary,” Reeve said.
Simeon Smith, of Trotwood, bowls often at Eastern Lanes and called it “a good bowling house” where there is seldom any trouble. He called hitting a person in the head with a bowling ball “crazy.”
“They need to control their tempers and be more responsible,” he said.
Joel Robinson, of Middletown, said he wasn’t there for the fight, but some of his friends were.
“They said it was just brutal,” said Robinson, who also bowls regularly at Eastern Lanes. “Guys on the ground, blood everywhere, the guy makes a run for it and soon as he pulls out of the parking lot, the cops show up.”
Reeve said Baker was arrested shortly after officers arrived on the scene. He was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle pulled over by police.
Court records also show Baker has previously been charged with trafficking drugs crack cocaine, drug abuse marijuana, resisting arrest and a host of other offenses.
Reeve said it is possible that one other person involved in the fight could be charged with assault.
Police encourage anyone with more information about what happened that night or who may have recorded video of the fight to contact them.
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