Indiana man, others facing assault charges after brawl at North Apollo bar

An Indiana County man faces felony charges after police say he struck another man in the head with a beer bottle during a brawl at a North Apollo bar.

Police charged Ian Russell Lamison, 42, of Indiana, with two felony counts of aggravated assault and additional offenses in connection with the fight at R-Bar on the borough’s 16th Street. He remained in the Armstrong County Jail on Thursday after failing to post $25,000 bond.

Also facing charges in connection with the fracas are Krystle Marie Miller, 29, of Kiski Township, and Cameron William Helm, 21, of North Apollo. Police charged both with simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Online court records hadn’t been updated to reflect those charges as of Thursday afternoon.

Kiski Township police said they went to the bar shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after Armstrong County 911 informed them about a 911 hang up call from that address, according to a criminal complaint.

When officers arrived, they immediately spotted Helm walking across the street from the bar. His T-shirt was soaked with blood, and he was bleeding from the side of the head and ear. He also had multiple cuts and scrapes on his bloodied arms and chest, police said.

Police said Helm and multiple witnesses identified Lamison as the person who hit Helm in the head with a beer bottle and punched him multiple times in the head and face. Paramedics who treated Helm at the scene recommended he go to the hospital due to the severity of his injuries, but he refused, according to the complaint.

Lamison told police he got into an argument with people inside the bar who were verbally attacking his girlfriend.

Lamison said three unknown assailants punched him in the face and took him to the ground. He told police he fought back to defend himself, according to the complaint.

Lamison told police he had a beer bottle in his hand when the altercation started, but he didn’t recall using it as a weapon.

He was taken into custody at the bar.

Lamison’s girlfriend told police that she made a comment to another woman, and an unknown woman pushed her and punched her in the side of the face. She was unable to identify the woman who attacked her, but another witness identified the attacker as Krystle Miller. Police said the girlfriend had a visible injury consistent with what she had reported took place.

Lamison’s girlfriend told police Lamison did mouth off to people in the bar, but he was only defending her. She didn’t see any of the altercation that occurred after she was struck. Both she and Lamison declined to be seen by paramedics, according to the complaint.

Another witness not involved in the fight said the fight intensified after Lamison’s girlfriend was attacked. The witness couldn’t recall what was said before the fight broke out.

An attorney for Lamison wasn’t listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 before District Judge James Andring in Leechburg.