Two men were arrested Tuesday night after a fight broke out about a phone they may have believed was stolen.
Kavon Blair, 24, and Samuel Opara, 26, were each charged with a felony count of battery.
Police responded at about 7:10 p.m. near the intersection of North Illinois Street and West Illinois Court to an assault complaint, Bloomington Police Department Lt. John Kovach said. The victim, a 46-year-old man, had a cut on his forehead. He declined medical attention.
The victim told police he and his girlfriend had gone to a friend's residence to use her phone. After they left, they went to a convenience store. On their way home from there, they were stopped by three men.
One of the men, Blair, allegedly told the victim to give him the phone that belonged to the woman that the victim and his girlfriend had visited. The victim did not have the phone.
After demanding the phone, Blair allegedly hit the victim, which cut his forehead and knocked him to the ground.
While the victim was on the ground, Opara allegedly kicked him several times. Witnesses confirmed the victim's account, Kovach said.
Police also spoke to the woman who owns the phone, who said she'd thought briefly the victim had stolen her phone, but it was then returned by a different person.
Blair and Opara each denied taking part in the assault, Kovach said. They were arrested and taken to Monroe County Correctional Center.
