Four men accused of attacking Tuscarawas County man while they were drunk

Four men have been arrested and charged in connection with a violent assault that left a local man severely injured, according to a statement released by the New Philadelphia Police Department.

On Tuesday, August 20, at approximately 4:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of an assault at a residence in the 600 block of Fair Ave NW. Upon arrival, officers, along with paramedics from the New Philadelphia Fire Department, discovered a male victim who had been assaulted by multiple individuals and sustained severe injuries.

Due to the nature of the crime and the severity of the victim’s injuries, detectives were immediately called to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. Evidence was processed, witness statements were taken, and surveillance footage from the area was gathered.

Over the course of the next seven days, detectives worked diligently to identify the individuals involved in the assault. Arrest warrants were obtained and subsequently served on the suspects. Interviews conducted with the suspects provided additional information crucial to the investigation.

The investigation revealed that the suspects, who are all employed by the same energy services company, had been consuming alcohol at a local establishment on the day of the incident. After several hours, the men left the establishment and went to the victim’s residence, who was an acquaintance of one of the suspects. The suspects knocked on the door, and when the victim answered, they immediately assaulted him and forced their way into the residence, the statement says. The assault continued inside, with the victim being dragged to another room where the attack persisted, according to the release. The suspects eventually fled the scene in two separate trucks.

The victim sustained multiple facial fractures, abrasions to his face and head, and a laceration on his ear that required multiple sutures. He was treated at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital and has surgery scheduled in the coming weeks. The victim’s wife, who was home at the time of the attack, witnessed parts of the assault but was not injured. She made the initial 911 call after the suspects fled.

Detectives believe the attack was not a random act but was fueled by alcohol, with the victim specifically targeted by the group for personal reasons.

The following individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident: Christopher Beatty, 35, of New Philadelphia; Henry Wellman, 25, of New Philadelphia; Jared Soltero, 36, of Minerva; and Todd Riordan, 38, of Massillon. Each has been charged with aggravated burglary and felonious assault. The suspects made their initial appearances in New Philadelphia Municipal Court, and the case will be reviewed by the Tuscarawas County Grand Jury in the coming weeks, with additional charges potentially being filed.