Bar patron sends five to hospital, police say

UNITY, Ore. – An upset bar patron went on a rampage after he was asked about his family name, sending five people to the hospital, according to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.

Dennis Lee Rose, 41, of Scottsburg, was charged with assault, menacing, disorderly conduct, unlawful use of a weapon and other charges, said Sgt. Tim Fisher. He is being held at the Baker County Jail.

Fisher said authorities were called to the Eldorado Ditch Co. bar in Unity late Wednesday after getting a report that a man was beating customers.

Rose, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 300 pounds, had been drinking and got upset when bar patrons asked him about his family name, which he said triggered bad memories, Fisher said. Rose was visiting family after having spent several years fishing in Alaska.

Fisher said Rose assaulted Frank Hutcheon, 52, Justin Brooks, 28, and James Wood, 43, all of Unity.

“He was throwing people around like they were rag dolls,” Fisher said.

Rose left the bar and started striking Unity residents as he walked down the street, Fisher said.

He is accused of hitting and kicking Patricia Bradford, 45, and Lorene Bradford, 84; Larry Stratton, 65; Letha Catlett, 68; and Leann Warren, 50.

The Bradfords and Stratton were taken by private vehicle to Holy Rosary Medical Center at Ontario. Stratton was treated and released; the Bradfords remained hospitalized Thursday, according to Colleen Jackson, of Payette, Idaho, Lorene Bradford’s niece. Catlett and Warren were taken by John Day ambulance to the Blue Mountain Hospital at John Day.