PORTAGE, Mich. — A 57-year-old man has been charged in connection with a violent assault at a local motel that left a 32-year-old man hospitalized with multiple injuries.
Dennis-Ivanov Baker, of Portage, was charged Thursday with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and assault with a deadly weapon following the incident that occurred Monday evening at the Holiday Motel on South Westnedge Avenue, near I-94. He is currently being held at the Kalamazoo County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety.
The assault was reported to police around 7:30 p.m. Monday when officers arrived to find the victim suffering from multiple lacerations to his arms and body. While initial reports indicated that the weapon involved was a hatchet, authorities later referred to it simply as a “cutting tool.” The victim was transported to the hospital and, as of Thursday afternoon, is said to be in stable condition.
Investigators believe the assault followed an argument between Baker and the victim, though details about the confrontation remain unclear. Portage DPS Deputy Director Jeff VanderWiere stated that police have encountered difficulty obtaining consistent witness accounts and have received conflicting reports about the nature of the dispute. Additionally, some individuals left the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
“We are having some difficulty getting cooperation on scene and some conflicting reports about who was involved and what the argument was over,” VanderWiere said. “We know individuals left the scene prior to our arrival. We would appreciate if they would reach out to us.”
Police are urging anyone with further information or who may have witnessed the altercation to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
