THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030433
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Surgeons early Thursday removed the right eye of a man who was struck in the face with a glass beer mug at an Oceanfront bar, police said.
Two patrons of Bubba's Beach Club in the 400 block of Laskin Road were talking about boxing shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday when one patron suddenly slammed a mug into the face of the second patron, police said.
It is unclear what provoked the assault.
The mug shattered, and glass shards severely damaged the right eye of 31-year-old Ernest L. Smalley of the 800 block of Sandy Court, police said. Doctors at Virginia Beach General hospital told police the eye couldn't be saved.
Vincent A. James, a 28-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Story, was later charged with malicious assault and released after posting a $3,000 bond, police said. James also was taken to the hospital with cuts on his right hand from the shattered mug.
Police spokesman Mike Carey said the two men had met earlier in the evening near a game machine.
Smalley and a friend left the game and sat at the bar to eat. Shortly after, Smalley and James began talking again and then Smalley was struck in the face, Carey said.
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT INJURIES ARREST by CNB