The Sky Box Sports Bar. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK- A West Springfield man was arraigned Thursday in Westfield District Court on charges including attempted murder after an incident Tuesday evening at a Southwick bar in which he allegedly struck a man – intentionally – with his motor vehicle.
Southwick Police Officer Paul Miles reports in a court document that he responded to a call at The Skybox bar and found a victim in the parking lot who said that he had been struck by a vehicle operated by an intoxicated a man who had been denied service at the bar.
Miles reports he was told that a known customer, Nathan Gibson, 40, of 179 Ashley Street, West Springfield, had been intoxicated when he arrived at the bar and became irate when he was refused service. Miles reports the bartender and several other witnesses said that Gibson threw a bar stool at the bartender before leaving the bar.
The victim followed Gibson when he left and attempted to take a picture of Gibson’s vehicle – and license plate – but Gibson drove into him and then fled the area. The man had been thrown away from the vehicle rather than pulled under which probably limited his injuries, according to Miles
The bartender told Miles that she had also had to refuse to serve alcohol to Gibson about a month earlier when he had also been intoxicated.
Miles reports that Gibson was not immediately located and a warrant for his arrest was granted.
Gibson was arraigned Thursday on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, vandalism and attempted murder. He was released upon payment of $1,000 cash bail pending a March 28 hearing.
