Middletown police responded to the Iron City Bar at 3234 Yankee Road just after 2:30 a.m. May 25, on a report of a stabbing. According to Officer Roy Nelson, who testified at the preliminary hearing, Anthony Baker, 45, of Lebanon, was found laying on the floor of the bar bleeding from a wound in his right upper abdomen area.
Hensley, located by another officer about a block away from Iron City, was identified by a barmaid and three other patrons as the suspect, Nelson said. Nelson also testified that a folding pocket knife with what is believed to be blood was found on Hensley during a pat down. The knife has been sent to a lab for testing, he said.
Detective Timothy Riggs testified that when he interviewed Hensley at about 8:30 a.m. that morning, he told him he was playing pool when he noticed a beer he had recently purchased was missing. While asking the people inside where his beer was, Hensley said he was attacked by several men. Baker joined the fray and that is when Hensley told Riggs he “did what I did.”
“And I said, ‘What is that?’ and he said ‘I cut him,’” Riggs testified.
Riggs said Hensley had a laceration on his back and some bruising, which Hensley said was caused when he was pushed up against something in the fight. He added that Hensley indicated he was defending himself during the incident.
The detective also interviewed Baker, who told him he saw an altercation begin between Hensley and the barmaid and he “went in to intervene” and was stabbed.
Hensley, who did not testify during the hearing, shook his head in disagreement as Riggs described his interview with Baker and mumbled “Oh my God,” under his breath. Before Riggs left the courtroom, Hensley thanked him for his testimony.
Judge Mark W. Wall bound the case against Hensley over for consideration by a Butler County grand jury.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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