Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Bar Fight Death of Highland Man

Police say Evan James Wells of Fenton punched Ronald Smith, who fell and hit his head on the cement at a Holly bar and died three days later.

A Fenton man has been charged in the death of a Highland man after a bar fight in Holly, according to police.

Officials charged Evan James Wells, 37, with involuntary manslaughter, a 15 year felony, in Clarkston District Court at 10 a.m. Friday, according to Holly Police. Wells was being housed at Oakland County Jail on a parole detainer from Flint Parole, police said. He is now being held on a $1 million bond, according to police. His court date is at 8:30am Nov. 1st at 52-2 District Court in Clarkston.

Police responded to a call from Martini’s Bar & Grill in the Village of Holly for an assault complaint on Friday, Oct. 12. Officers arrived and found a 43-year-old Highland man lying unconscious outside the bar, according to a press release from Holly police.

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Rescue crews transported the victim, who police have identified as Ronald Smith, 43, of Highland, to Genesys Regional Medical Center, where he never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on Monday, according to police.

Police say Wells punched the victim in the face during an altercation, causing Smith to fall backward and slam his head on the cement, resulting in a severe brain injury.

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Fox 2 News Detroit reported that witnesses said Smith was looking out for his twin brother during an argument on the bar patio.

"Somebody sucker punched him in the head, and we lost a good friend and a good customer," Martini’s Bar & Grill owner Luvic Skrela told Fox 2 in the article.

The Fenton man then left the scene, according to Holly Police, but later was arrested by Holly police on aggravated assault charges and parole violations.


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