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Man charged with felony battery

by KEITH KINNAIRD
News editor | November 24, 2020 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — A Washington state man is facing a felony battery charge after breaking the cheek of another man during an altercation at a downtown bar.

Kyle Allen Jack made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Thursday, court records show. Minutes from the hearing, however, were not immediately available.

Jack, a 29-year-old from Lynwood, is accused of punching a 33-year-old man in the face following a game of billiards at the A&P Bar & Grill on Dec. 22, 2019. The alleged victim said the two shook hands after the game and he was punched in the face after Jack accused him of making disparaging remarks about him during the game, a police affidavit alleges.

The alleged victim was interviewed at Bonner General Health, where it was determined that the blow had broken facial bones and reconstructive surgery would be required, the affidavit said.

Jack, according to court documents, returned to Washington and was not interviewed by police.

Video surveillance footage showed the two shaking hands and exchanging words after the game was over. Kyle set down his pool cue, grabbed the alleged victim by the throat and slamming him into a wall, according to the footage.

The footage showed the altercation move into and out of the kitchen with Jack still grabbing the other man's throat. The alleged victim was pinned against a wall a second time.

The alleged victim let go of Jack's shirt and stepped away from him with his hands at his sides, the footage showed. The footage then showed Kyle delivering the punch and the alleged victim retaliating with two blows before the two were separated by security personnel.

Jack is being prosecuted at the felony level because the battery caused great bodily harm and permanent disfigurement, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing in the case is pending.

Aggravated battery is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com or followed on Twitter @KeithDailyBee