A University student was assaulted by three non-University affiliates Monday night in the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, after an encounter with one of the suspects earlier that day. <
The Department of Public Safety arrested Dexter resident Richard Curry, 19, and two friends last night. Curry, who was arraigned yesterday at the Washtenaw County Jail, is being charged with two counts of felony assault and conspiracy to commit assault. His two friends were released.
DPS is anticipating the arrests and arraignments of two other suspects, whose names were not released, DPS Sgt. Melissa Overton said. Those suspects will be facing misdemeanor charges for assault and battery and conspiracy to commit an assault.
Meanwhile, the student, who was taken to University Hospital after the attack and has since been released, is suffering from multiple injuries, including lacerations to the left upper and lower eyelids leading to blurred vision, abrasions to his forehead and back injuries, Overton said.
The assault occurred at 9:30 p.m. near the lobby of the graduate library, as the victim was preparing to leave the building. None of the attackers knew the victim, though Curry and the victim had been involved in a brief fight at 7:30 p.m. on the Diag.
Overton said the victim first met Curry while Curry was walking a dog with another man and a woman on the Diag.
The victim had been nearby and approached the suspects after believing they were trying to ask him a question, Overton said.
Curry then allegedly began cursing at the victim for an unknown reason, causing the dog to start growling at the victim.
Curry also took an inch-thick chain out of his pocket and started swinging it at the victim, who tried to push Curry in an attempt to get away, Overton said.
But according to DPS reports, Curry swung the chain at the victim, hitting him across his back, and then fled the scene.
The victim then went to the library to study.
Overton said Curry was gone for two hours before returning to the Diag with two different individuals, both men. The group went to the library searching for the victim.
“He was walking down the stairs, he was getting ready to leave,” Overton said.
Upon finding the victim, Overton said one of the attackers asked him to go outside. The victim refused, and was assaulted by one of the men, who punched him in the face with a closed fist an estimated five or six times.
Curry then picked up a chair and threatened to use it on the victim, at which point library staff members broke up the fight. Police arrived at the scene soon afterwards, taking all three suspects into custody.
As of yesterday, Curry was still in Washtenaw County Jail on $5,000 bond, Overton said. A preliminary trial has been set for March 26 at 1 p.m. at the 22nd Circuit Court.
If convicted, Curry could face up to eight years in jail and a $4,000 fine for the felonious assault charges, as well as additional time for the conspiracy charge.
Overton said DPS will also seek charges for the other two men, who could face a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for conspiracy charges. The man who assaulted the victim in the library could also receive a 90-day imprisonment and a $500 fine for assault and battery.