Two men charged after parking lot brawl, witnesses say one man waved gun around

LAVA HOT SPRINGS — Two individuals are facing felony charges after a fight broke out over what they claim was a man making unwanted advances to a woman, resulting in lost teeth and a gun being pulled.

Brian Wayne Halford, 20, is facing one felony count of aggravated battery, and Cletus Nathaniel Clay, 18, faces one felony charge of aggravated assault.

Halford and Clay have been appointed as public defenders. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.

Parking lot fight

According to court documents, on July 3, deputies with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Lava Hillside Suites after a report claimed that a kid was getting jumped outside of the business.

Upon the arrival of deputies, a male victim was found being attended to by EMS.

Speaking with a witness, he said that the victim had been talking with one of the suspects when the victim was “cheap shotted.” The conversation between the victim and the suspect was about them fighting one-on-one, but the documents do not state whether it was Halford or Clay who spoke with the victim.

One witness told deputies that the fight had started due to the victim making advances on a woman.

In a video that was captured of the fight, the deputy reported seeing a large group of people involved, with Halford seen sitting on top of the victim. The video shows Halford striking the victim with his fists and elbow multiple times.

Halford is later kicked in the face, taken off the victim, and struck by another individual as the crowd begins to intervene.

Clay is shown getting assaulted and manages to escape back to a White Dodge truck, where he opens the vehicle’s door and produces a gold Glock pistol and waves it around.

As deputies began to process the scene, four teeth were located and photographed. They were given to the family of the victim later on.

Speaking with the owner of the Rooftop Bar and Lava Hot Springs about the incident, the deputies were informed that Halford, Clay, and a woman who has not been charged attempted to enter the bar, but were turned away for being underage.

Once they left, the altercation began.

Halford’s account

By the time deputies arrived on the scene, both suspects had left in the White Dodge truck. Flock cameras were used to locate the truck, which had left the city and headed toward U.S. Highway 30.

The Dodge was found in McCammon, and a traffic stop was conducted. Halford and the woman were inside the truck, but Clay was missing. When asked where he was, the deputy was told they had dropped him off and left in his own truck.

The two provided information on how to contact Clay, and another deputy began making his way to the 18-year-old’s location.

Reading them their Miranda Rights, the woman told the deputy that the victim was hitting on her, and when she told him no, the man continued to make unwarranted advances.

This occurred inside the business and moved towards the parking lot where the fight had taken place.

The deputy observed Halford had a bloody elbow.

When asked if there were any guns inside the truck, they responded that there were. Two guns were located, with one being the gold Glock.

Halford was taken into custody and taken to a local hospital to treat a bloody lip and his elbow.

Clay’s perspective

Clay was found at a gas station in Malad City after he spoke with the deputy by phone.

Clay explained there was an argument that escalated into a fight. The 18-year-old said that the victim had slapped him first, and that’s when the fight started. Clay said that six other people later jumped him. During this, Clay said he remembers getting kicked in the head, and after that can’t recall what happened.

When the deputy asked if he could remember grabbing a gun out of the Dodge, he told the deputy he didn’t remember.

The last thing he remembers was lying down in the Dodge and later waking up at a campground before parting ways with Halford and the woman.

Clay was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared before being taken to the Bannock County Jail.

The woman was not charged and was allowed to leave after Halford was arrested.

Upcoming court hearing

Halford and Clay are scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Eric Hunn at 10:30 p.m. on July 14.

Though both men have been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.

If Halford is found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison. If Clay is found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison.