Willmar men face assault charges for allegedly beating man

WILLMAR -- Two Willmar men made their first court appearances Wednesday on third-degree assault charges for allegedly beating a man early Tuesday morning at a rural Willmar residence.

Unconditional bail was set at $50,000 for both Lazario Domingo Diaz, 30, and Francisco R. Vallejo, 37, in Kandiyohi County District Court. Conditional bail for both was set at $25,000. Both are scheduled in court July 12.

Diaz also faces another felony charge of escape from custody and a misdemeanor for fleeing an officer on foot.

According to the complaint, Kandiyohi County Sheriff's deputies were called around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday to a home northwest of Willmar.

A man, who was bleeding heavily from his face, said he'd been assaulted by several men at a home across the street. The man said he managed to get away from the men and ask a neighbor to call for help.

The man said that he had received a ride to the rural residence earlier in the evening from Vallejo and that Vallejo and a man identified as "Chattle" had beaten him. Chattle is a known nickname for Diaz.

A deputy questioned Vallejo, who had blood on his hand. He claimed the blood was from a mosquito bite and denied anything about a fight or even knowing the alleged victim.

While deputies were questioning another man, they heard rustling in a nearby brushline. The man claimed it was coyotes. Then a man, identified as Diaz, got up from the brush and ran away.

He was caught by an officer, handcuffed and told to sit down on a step. He again attempted to run away. The officer later secured Diaz in his squad car.

The victim was interviewed at the hospital and said that he'd known Vallejo for about 25 years and that they'd drank beers around a bonfire.

He was leaving when Vallejo, Diaz and other men hit him, knocked him to the ground and punched and kicked him.

The victim's lip was cut and he required stitches to repair the wound.