Grand jury indicts man for attack with baseball bat

A man charged with assaulting three people with a baseball bat was indicted by the grand jury for assault.

Florencio Espinoza, 27, of 27 E. Washington St., was indicted for first-degree assault, second-degree assault and first-degree persistent felony offender for the March 28 incident.

According to court documents, police said the incident may have started over a stolen backpack. Espinoza later told police one of the victims took a backpack and made a pass at his girlfriend. He said he confronted the three and swung the bat when they approached him.

Two of the victims received broken arms during the incident. A third victim had facial injuries and bruises, police said.

Espinoza was also indicted in a separate case for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts) and first-degree persistent felony offender.

The grand jury also indicted a taxi driver for allegedly holding a passenger against her will after handing her a threatening note.

Johnny Barnett, 43, of 118 Finley Road, was arrested March 3. The female passenger told police Barnett handed her a note saying, “If you panic or scream I’m gonna hurt you,” according to police and court documents. She also said Barnett tried to lock the doors but she got out of the vehicle.

Barnett was indicted for first-degree unlawful imprisonment.

The grand jury also returned the following indictments Thursday:

— Shane Patrick Smith, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

— William R. Bowman, Jeffrey S. Bostick and Kayla Horton, first-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, third-degree burglary, first-degree persistent felony offender (Bostick), second-degree persistent felony offender (Bowman).

— Elmer Taylor, second-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

— Rodney Butler, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree persistent felony offender.

— Michael Fields, first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

— Ashley N. Whitley, first-degree bail jumping.

— Justin A. Johnson, first-degree bail jumping.

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