Police: Dispute Over Money Leads to Assault, Drug Arrests

A Southington man is facing one charge of second-degree assault and a New Britain man is charged with selling drugs in the community after a verbal dispute over money escalated into physical violence Tuesday evening, police said.

Officers took 54-year-olds Mark Newton and Jonathan Young into custody Wednesday night after receiving a call from Young stating that there had been an argument earlier in the day and Newton was waiting in his driveway with a baseball bat, police said.

Both men were arraigned in Bristol Superior Court Thursday, according to court officials. They were each released after posting bond.

Newton, of 667 Arch St. in New Britain, is facing charges of possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school zone, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, sale of illegal drugs and disorderly conduct. Young, of 246 Spring Lake Road, is facing one charge of second-degree assault.

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Southington Police Lt. Michael Baribault said police were alerted to the situation around 8:50 p.m. after Newton returned to Young’s Spring Lake Road home following a dispute earlier in the day.

“Newton returned to Young’s home in his vehicle in the company of two other individuals,” Baribault said in a press release. “Young called the Southington Police Department and reported that Newton’s vehicle was outside his home and there had been an earlier dispute over money. Southington officers subsequently stopped Newton’s vehicle. Newton had a visible cut over his left eye and injury to his forehead.”

According to a police report, officers stopped Newton and discovered several individual baggies of a white, rock-like substance that tested positive as cocaine and 20 OxyCodone pills. Officers also seized $2,937 in cash as part of the investigation.

Police also found a bloody aluminum baseball bat that allegedly was used by Young earlier in the day to strike Newton, causing the injuries to head and face.

Interviews with Newton and Young led police to discover that earlier in the day, the two men were in Young’s home arguing over money when Young grabbed the bat and hit Newton with it.

Newtown was then able to wrestle the bat away and took it with him, leaving the home. He returned a short time later with the two individuals, the police report said. Officers were able to intervene before any further confrontation took place.

Following police intervention, Newton was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut for treatment of his injuries. He was released later in the evening, police said.

Both men are due back in Bristol Superior Court in January, according to court records.

Editor's Note: No mugshot of Jonathan Young was available on Thursday.

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