GRANTS, NM—A recent incident on First Street involving a stolen bicycle led to a violent altercation, resulting in one man being hospitalized and another under arrest.
The Grants Police Department confirmed that the altercation, which occurred near the intersection of First Street and Jefferson Avenue, was sparked by a misunderstanding over the ownership of a bicycle.
Lieutenant Joe Galindo of the Grants Police Department provided details of the incident, which began when the victim, whose name has not been released, spotted what he believed to be his stolen bicycle parked in front of a local Allsup's convenience store. The victim verified that the bike was indeed his and decided to take it back, unknowingly setting off a chain of events that would escalate into violence.
The suspect, identified as Leron Williams, 32, was seen entering the Allsup's store just before the victim reclaimed the bicycle. When Williams exited the store and noticed the bike was gone, he quickly acted, learning the bike was seen near First Street. Williams then found someone to give him a ride at the gas station, eventually confronting the victim near a flower shop on First Street.
It was there that Williams allegedly blindsided the victim, striking him with an unknown object, causing significant injuries to the victim’s head.
'The victim was hit with something, but we couldn’t recover any weapons at the scene,' Lt. Galindo explained. 'We have theories about what was used, but nothing concrete has been found.'
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been released.
Williams, who fled the scene after the assault, was later arrested by Grants police officers on Friday. He has been charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, a third-degree felony.