A man wearing a clown costume was arrested at the Battle Ground Taco Bell after a fight early Sunday. The victim was punched in the face and suffered significant head injuries, according to Clark County Superior Court documents.
Lance L. Cormican, 24, of Battle Ground appeared in court Monday on suspicion of second-degree assault. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 8.
Judge Scott Collier held him on $25,000 bail. Cormican plans to hire an attorney.
Battle Ground police officers arrived at about 2 a.m. on a report of a physical disturbance at the Taco Bell, 1702 W. Main St.
Police said they found an unconscious 27-year-old man with head injuries. The victim, Bryan K. Descloux of Vancouver, has skull fractures, possible nerve damage, hearing loss and paralysis on the left side of his face, according to court documents. It’s unclear if the condition is permanent. Descloux was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where he was listed in satisfactory condition Monday.
Cormican and Descloux apparently argued in the fast food restaurant’s drive-thru over an undisclosed topic, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in court. Both got out of their vehicles. Then Cormican, who was dressed in a clown costume, punched Descloux in the face and caused him to fall and hit his head on the asphalt, the affidavit says. One of the witnesses left her vehicle to help the victim, who was bleeding from his ear, the affidavit says.
Cormican said he hit Descloux because he felt threatened, the affidavit says.
When police arrived, Cormican was no longer at the scene. However, witnesses identified him as the suspect in the assault. Cormican and the victim did not know each other, said Deputy Prosecutor Abbie Bartlett. Patrol officers found Cormican about an hour and a half later, when he was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Jail, police said.
Cormican has no felony history in Washington state, according to court records.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Battle Ground Police at 360-342-5200.
