On Monday, Sept. 2, Cortez Police arrested a man for allegedly beating another man with a golf club near City Market.
Officer Michael Rivas responded to North Harrison Street about 3:10 p.m. after receiving a call that a man was swinging his golf club at someone.
Rivas arrived to see a man later identified as Ren Bedoni circling a man identified as Hiram Maryboy. Maryboy was attempting to grab his backpack, which was on the ground between him and Bedoni. After separating the men, Maryboy tried to walk away with the golf club, but Sgt. Traci Mueller took it from him and had him sit down.
At that time, Rivas was speaking with Bedoni, asking him what happened. Bedoni told him that Maryboy tried to take his things, so he “beat Hiram up.” When Rivas asked if he had hit Maryboy with the club, Bedoni told him to ask Maryboy.
While speaking with Bedoni, Rivas said he suddenly asked, “Should I beat him up again?”
Rivas arrested Bedoni after he was advised by dispatch that Bedoni had a municipal warrant for his arrest. Rivas said he could smell alcohol on Bedoni’s breath.
Mueller stayed behind with Maryboy and EMS.
Bedoni was taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital for medical clearance before being taken to the Montezuma County Detention Center. Bedoni had a BRAC of 0.293.
Mueller later told Rivas that Maryboy said Bedoni had taken his backpack and attempted to walk away with it. When Maryboy tried to get his backpack back, Bedoni hit him with the golf club, which he apparently used as a cane, Maryboy said he thought he had been hit four times.
“Sgt. Mueller stated Hiram was scared to press charges because he said Ren would kill him if he did so,” Rivas said.
After receiving the physician’s report, Maryboy was found to have a contusion to his upper back, right upper arm and a 1 centimeter laceration over his right elbow, allegedly from the golf club.
Bedoni was given a felony hold slip for second-degree assault.
Bedoni will appear for his return filing of charges on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the 22nd Judicial District.
