A fight at a Marathon bar sent one man to jail and a second man was airlifted to a Miami hospital with multiple facial injuries.
Deputies Ben Elmore and Rosary Ponce responded to JJ’s Doghouse just before 1 a.m. today to a report of a fight. The 25 year old victim, a Marathon resident, was found inside the bar and had multiple injuries to his face. The suspect – 26 year old James Pearson of Pennsylvania – was outside the bar. He had blood all over his hands and clothing, but had no visible injuries.
Stories from the suspect, victim and witnesses indicated the suspect and victim were both in the bar with their girlfriends. Pearson and his girlfriend were playing pool. The victim reportedly approached him and told him he and his girlfriend wanted to play pool as well. Stories differ at this point, but for some reason the suspect, his girlfriend and the victim went outside.
Once outside, the suspect – who told Deputy Elmore he “loves to fight” – beat the victim. The victim’s girlfriend told Deputy Elmore she went outside to check on her boyfriend and found him curled up on the ground with Pearson standing over him.
Pearson was arrested, charged with felony battery and was taken to jail. Friends took the victim to Fisherman’s Hospital; he was later airlifted to Miami for treatment of numerous facial fractures and possible internal injuries.