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Four charged in Halloween bar riot

Four Fort Dodge and Des Moines residents appeared in Webster County Magistrate Court Tuesday on charges of participating in a riot that Fort Dodge Police say happened on Halloween.

Jacob Clayton, 24, of Fort Dodge; Josh Coleman, 30, of Fort Dodge; Alexander Pallos, 23, of Des Moines; and Mercedes Rom, 23, of Des Moines; are all charged with participating in a riot, an aggravated misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct — fighting or violent behavior, a simple misdemeanor.

Fort Dodge police say the incident happened at Brass Monkey on North 10th Street. There, they say the four joined an assault on people inside the bar that left some property damage.

Webster County dispatchers received a call from the bar staff at approximately 10:22 that night reporting a large fight and possible injuries. By the time officers arrived, the large crowd was leaving the area, said Capt. Ryan Gruenberg, public information officer.

Officers saw broken bottles, tables and chairs, but no individuals reported their injuries to law enforcement, leaving the extent of injury unclear.

“Several patrons attempted to stop the fighting behavior and sustained minor injuries,” Gruenberg said. “Some individuals were struck without notice and were reported by witnesses to have been unconscious for a brief time. … It is unclear what exactly prompted the behavior, but the investigation led us to believe that the group of individuals instigated the fight and simply began striking others for unknown reasons.”

All defendants were released on recognizance after criminal complaints were filed. Preliminary hearings for Clayton and Pallos are scheduled for Jan. 15. Romo and Coleman have waived their preliminary hearings.

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