Scott Wittenberg

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A fight between two men at a Baldwin County bar Saturday night led a South Carolina man’s arrest a 34-year-old Florida man being taken to a Macon hospital where he was admitted for a head injury, local authorities say.

While one man has already has been charged in the incident, criminal charges are pending against the victim, too.

The suspect was identified as Scott Wittenberg, 39, of Beech Island, S.C., according to an incident report filed by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Malloy. 

Wittenberg was charged with aggravated battery, Malloy said in his report.

The victim in the case, meanwhile, was identified as Christopher David Walters, of the 3900 block of Barcelona Circle, Naples, Fla., according to the incident report.

A fight reportedly broke out between the two men at Duke’s Bar, located at 162 Sinclair Marina Road, Malloy said in his report.

The deputy said when he got to the business that he talked with Detective Bob Butch who reported that an altercation had taken place earlier between patrons at the business that he owns. However, Butch said he was unclear as to what exactly happened.

Malloy said he saw a man, who appeared to be unconscious, laying on the ground. The man was later identified as Walters. The victim’s skin was discolored, the deputy said.

“He was gasping for air at the time,” Malloy said in his report.

Firefighters/first responders with Baldwin County Fire Rescue, along with personnel from Grady Emergency Medical Services aided Walters at the scene. The victim was taken by ambulance to The Medical Center of Navicent Health in Macon where he was admitted.

The deputy talked with a witness who said told him that Walters and Wittenberg had gotten into a physical altercation.

Malloy said the woman told him that she saw Wittenberg as he threw his sunglasses off and then reportedly punched Walters, according to the incident report. Walters reportedly fell to the ground.

The deputy said he heard an unidentified person say that Walters hit his head on some concrete when he fell.

Malloy said he later talked with Wittenburg about what had happened.

“[He] appeared to be withholding information from me and being short with me,” Malloy said in his report. 

The deputy said he smelled the strong odor of alcohol coming from Wittenberg’s breath at the time. Wittenberg reportedly admitted that he hit Walters because he was being “aggressive” toward him while at the bar. Wittenberg said Walters later followed him outside.

After Wittenberg was arrested, he was taken to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center where he was jailed.