HOUSTON — The man accused of attacking a Museum District bar employee after the employee asked him to put on a mask appeared in front of a judge Thursday after being arrested.
Patrick Kelly, 32, has been charged with assault-bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance. The judge gave him two $1,000 PR bonds.
Under his bond conditions, Kelly is not to have any contact with Josh Vaughn, the employee he allegedly attacked. Kelly is also prohibited from having any weapons, alcohol, or controlled substances.
Grand Prize Bar employee Josh Vaughn said he had to get numerous stitches in his head after he was attacked on Monday. He said he asked Kelly three times to keep his mask on his face.
After the third time, Vaughn said Kelly took a glass and smashed it on his head, then fled in his vehicle.
Grand Prize Bar posted to Instagram Tuesday a photo of the worker who was assaulted with the caption:
“The realities of running a business during COVID. The only thing our employees did was ask a human to put on a mask. This human proceeded to smash a glass on our employees head for asking him to wear mask.”
Vaughn said he has never had a problem like this.
“Usually they just put the mask on and deal with it, or they’ll just leave,” Vaughn said. “I’ve never had anyone attack me.”
Vaughn says there is video of the man who he claims attacked him and the bar turned it over to Houston police.
HPD says its major assaults division is investigating the case.
Mayor Turner commented on the incident Wednesday, tweeting this:
“The attacker who brutally assaulted the bar worker in the Museum District b/c (because) he was asked to put on his mask must be charged and arrested. Enough with this foolishness. St.”
Mayor Turner went to comment further on the incident during a press conference on the COVID-19 response describing the incident as “unacceptable.”
“Quite frankly, I view it as attempted murder, myself,” the mayor said. “But this type of foolishness will not be accepted. This lawlessness is not going to occur, be allowed.”