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Ashland continues hate crime probe Ashland police investigating an alleged hate crime say they'll deliver additional case reports to the district attorney early next week. Chief Scott Fleuter said Ashland officers were busy Friday interviewing witnesses to an assault on three gay men reported Sunday outside Kat Wok, an eatery and nightclub at 62 E. Main St. The Jackson County District Attorney's office declined this week to prosecute one man charged with fourth-degree assault and second-degree intimidation. Police arrested Michael Susee, a 23-year-old Southern Oregon University senior, after the fight broke out about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Susee allegedly assaulted the three men because he believed they were homosexuals, according to officers. But an initial police report seemed to indicate that both parties were responsible for the incident, said Debbie Minder, the deputy DA handling the case. "At the time, in the initial report, it appeared to be a mutually combative situation," she said. The incident apparently was rooted in a dispute on the Kat Wok dance floor between the three men and Susee, police said. Club managers kicked Susee and the men outside, where the fight escalated. One man broke his wrist and three others, including Susee, suffered cuts and bruises. The altercation concerned Kat Wok managers, who issued a statement Thursday decrying the incident and asserting the club does not "condone violence of any kind, whatever the motivation." Police have continued to investigate the incident, interviewing witnesses not part of the original report. Fleuter said officers have identified a second suspect in the assault, but they have not arrested the man. Police declined to name the second suspect Friday. But Fleuter said he expects to present the Jackson County District Attorney's Office with a case update in the next week. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA