Four area men facing felony charges after assault on New Philadelphia resident

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Four area men have been charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony, in connection with the beating of a New Philadelphia man on Aug. 20.

Charged were Christopher Beatty, 35, of New Philadelphia; Henry Wellman, 25, of New Philadelphia; Jared Soltero, 36, of Minerva; and Todd Riordan, 38, of Massillon.

According to New Philadelphia Police Capt. Detective Ty Norris , police were called to a residence in the 600 block of Fair Avenue NW at 4:15 p.m. Aug. 20 on a report that an assault.

Detectives were called to the scene to investigate because of the nature of the crime, severity of injuries to the victim and multiple suspects involved.

Working over the next seven days, detectives were able to identify the individuals involved and arrest warrants were served, Norris said.

Everyone involved worked for the same company

Police learned that all of the people involved worked for the same company. After drinking alcohol at several local establishments, the four men went to the victim's residence. The victim was an acquaintance of one of the men, the detective said.

They knocked on the door of the residence, and once the victim answered, he was immediately assaulted and then forced back into his residence. The victim continued to be assaulted while being dragged to a room in the house. The assault continued for a short period of time. The men then left in two separate trucks, according to the police department. The victim suffered multiple facial fractures, abrasions to his face and head and a cut on his ear, requiring multiple sutures. He was treated at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover. He will require surgery in the coming weeks, Norris said.

His wife, who was home at the time, called 911 after the suspects left the area. She was not injured.

Attack was fueled by alcohol

Norris said detectives believe that the attack was not a random act, but was fueled by alcohol. He said the victim was targeted by this group for personal reasons.

New Philadelphia police were assisted by the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor's Office, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office and the Harrison County Sheriff's Office.

This case will be reviewed by the Tuscarawas County grand jury in the coming weeks, and additional charges may be sought.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Four area men facing felony charges after assault on New Philadelphia resident