By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A fight at a local bar following St. Patrick’s Day celebrations left a Salisbury man bruised and beaten.
At the end of the night, there were two people injured, two sent to jail and arrest warrants issued for two others.
Paul Flahive, 43, of Salisbury, was one of those who suffered injuries during the brawl.
Flahive was hanging out with some friends at BenchWarmers at 113 E. Fisher St. on March 17 when the fight broke out in the bar.
Flahive said after midnight he and his friends were leaving the bar. When Flahive got outside, he was hit.
He said he was the first of his friends out of the door.
“I didn’t even get two feet out the door when I was hit,” he said.
He was knocked unconscious. Someone dragged him out of the way.
Flahive now believes he was hit with more than just a fist. His doctors agree.
He said they believe he was hit with something that was used as a weapon. He is not certain what was used.
The fight spread beyond BenchWarmers to nearby Cartucci’s Restaurant.
Police estimated the crowd to be around 30 people, including those fighting and bystanders.
Flahive estimates the number of people standing around was closer to 80.
The fight began, according to a police report, when Alvin Mayfield became agitated with Flahive.
The report indicates Mayfield tried to strike Flahive and instead hit Quentina Marie Barnes, 30, of Mocksville.
Barnes’ brother, Thomas Barnes, 27, also of Mocksville, jumped to her defense. The feuding trio went outside, the report said.
Flahive contends there was no confrontation with Mayfield.
“I didn’t speak to anybody in there. I was with a group of my friends,” he said. “I was hanging around the people I know.”
Flahive calls himself a non-confrontational person.
Mayfield’s friend, Cleo Pinkney Ross Jr., 35, of Maiden, hit Flahive multiple times, police said.
Ross was charged with misdemeanor simple assault or affray. He was released on a written promise to appear in court.
His first court date is slated for May 26.
Another of Ross and Mayfield’s friends, Tyrone James, got into a fight with Thomas Barnes.
A Salisbury Police Department officer arrived to find the two men fighting in the center of the gathering crowd.
The officer tried to break up the fight. He commanded the crowd to disperse. Some people left. Others did not.
One person tried to kick the responding officer, a report said.
About six patrol cars responded to the area to assist the officer.
The officer pepper-sprayed Barnes, who the report indicates was the aggressor.
Barnes, who told officers he was trained in martial arts, said he was just protecting his sister.
Flahive said the fight was a black-and-white issue, but authorities disagree.
Salisbury Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said the fight did have more to do with Barnes defending his sister than a racial issue.
Barnes was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for exposure to pepper spray and was later released.
He was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault or affray.
He was released on a written promise to appear in court.
He is also expected in court in May.
Police say Mayfield and James fled the scene. More arrests are expected.
Flahive said he was told by emergency medical responders he was lucky to be alive.
“They didn’t think I was going to make it,” he said.
He was taken to the emergency room, where he was treated and released after about four hours.
“I was passed out for two to three hours,” he said.
When asked to describe injuries he received in the fight, Flahive could not.
He referred a Post reporter to photos of his bruised and swollen face.
He said he has yet to see all of his own doctors.
Flahive said he’s never had a problem at BenchWarmers before this incident.
Officers have been called to the establishment on previous occasions.
As to the large number of officers that responded, Wilhelm said that is not uncommon for a response to a fight involving more than two people.
Flahive said he thinks the man who assaulted him should’ve gotten a more serious charge.
Wilhelm said the charge was a fair one.
“A magistrate makes a determination on what elements are met in order to charge the crime,” he said.