Document text
Ashland police are asking witnesses to come forward after two men described as transients allegedly attacked a man who identifies as gay near Calle Guanajuato. William James Kelso, 20, and Alejandro Almirall-Nieves, 21, are lodged in the Jackson County Jail on felony counts of third-degree assault following a Wednesday evening attack that police say began with homophobic comments in a park area near Granite and High streets downtown, according to a release issued by Ashland Police Department. At about 6:35 p.m., a police officer witnessed the fight already in progress, in which Almirall-Nieves allegedly menaced 44-year-old Christopher Johnson with a guitar. The preliminary investigation determined that Almirall-Nieves and Kelso were among a group that surrounded Johnson, who is gay, after he confronted the group over homophobic comments. Shortly after the confrontation, Kelso and his dog allegedly assaulted Johnson, who sought treatment for minor injuries, the release said. In addition to the felony assault charge, Kelso and Almirall-Nieves face misdemeanor charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and first-degree intimidation. Almirall-Nieves also faces a misdemeanor charge of menacing. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Ashland police at 541-488-2111, They’re looking specifically for an unknown woman who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.