ASHVILLE, OH — Ashville Police responded to a call on September 10 around 8:27 p.m. after reports of a man being knocked down during an altercation. What happened before that is still under investigation but in a newly redacted report, police say they found the victim, Stacey, on the ground.
When officers arrived, they found 54-year-old Stacey Garman lying on the ground, unresponsive to verbal commands but breathing and partially propped up on his arm. Blood was observed near the bridge of his nose, though no major wounds were immediately visible.
Witnesses told police that Garman, who appeared intoxicated, had confronted a man at the residence. That individual said Garman attempted to attack him, and in self-defense he made a motion that caused Garman to lose balance and fall, striking his head on the pavement. He told police that he was on his own property and had acted in self-defense.
“I never hit him,” the man told police. “He came at me, and he was so drunk he fell back and hit his head.”
Medics were called to the scene. As they arrived with a stretcher, Garman briefly sat up before falling backward again. First responders assisted him onto the stretcher, and paramedics transported him for further evaluation.
Police confirmed Garman’s identity using his vehicle registration and wallet. Witnesses stated Garman had announced earlier that he would be visiting but was not invited, and they described him as intoxicated when he arrived.
Garman did give a statement to police on the physical events that happened, and the male on the scene and possible suspect only repeated that he fell and did not answer any more of the police questions.
Earlier this week, Garman died in the hospital, escalating this case.
The case remains under investigation pending further review, according to Ashville Police.
