A New Mexico man arrested July 22 in Cortez faces charges of assault after allegedly punching a woman in the face about six times and cutting a man above his eye during a fight at Veterans Park, off East Main Street.
The man, identified as Ramondo Hollie of New Mexico, is scheduled to appear in court for his return filing of charges on Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
On July 22 about 1:48 p.m., Cortez Police officers were dispatched to Veterans Park for a reported stabbing. The suspect was reportedly fleeing the scene, heading toward Long Trailer Court, according to a police report written by Officer Kurtiss Baumgartner.
Baumgartner located Hollie near the trailer court. Hollie reported that he brought food to Byron Laner, whom Hollie is familiar with. He then stated that Laner accused Hollie of pulling a knife on him. A small knife was found in Hollie’s pocket.
Laner reported that Hollie picked a fight with him. He told police that Hollie had “kneed him in the crotch and swung upward at him with his left hand, cutting him with a small silver-colored knife above the right eye,” Baumgartner’s report stated. Laner did not locate any additional injuries on his person.
Two women, identified as Aaliyah Weeks and Paula Arnold, were walking through the park and witnessed Hollie punching Laner. The two women, a mother and daughter, attempted to break up the altercation.
Weeks told police that Hollie shoved her mother, so she stepped between them. Hollie then punched Weeks in the face “at least six times,” the police report stated. She had swelling to her lip and nose, and appeared to be bleeding from the nose.
Another witness approached the officers and confirmed that Hollie had in fact punched both Laner and Weeks.
“Based on the information provided I have probable cause to believe Ramondo committed the crime of second-degree assault by intending to cause bodily harm to Byron and using a small silver knife in the assault,” Baumgartner wrote in his report.
Baumgartner also believed that Hollie committed third-degree assault by punching Weeks multiple times.
Hollie was jailed at Montezuma County Detention Center and issued Felony Hold No. 7865. He was then left in the custody of jail staff, according to Baumgartner’s report.
