State Senator Assaulted in Restaurant

Monday, February 8, 2010
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STORY CORRECTION: Earlier today WCPN reported that Democratic State Representative Robert Hagan was involved in a "bar fight" over the weekend. That description is incorrect and we regret the error. Hagan was in a restaurant with his family when, he says, he and his daughter came under attack. The alleged attacker was later arrested and the owner of the restaurant says, "Everyone who witnessed it says it was completely unprovoked." Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler has more.

From the Youngstown Vindicator:
State Rep. Robert F. Hagan said an assault against him at a downtown Youngstown restaurant over the weekend will not shake his faith in the renaissance of the central city. Hagan was punched in the face and knocked to the ground shortly after entering the The Lemon Grove Cafe on West Federal Street with his family at about 11 p.m. Saturday.

“We walked in, and a gentleman asked us to move out of the way,” Hagan, D-60th of Youngstown, said. “I told him to ‘back away, man,’” Hagan said, as the man taunted him with offensive language. The next thing Hagan said he remembered was interacting with ambulance personnel.

Hagan said the injuries required 11 stitches to his chin. He also suffered a concussion and an injured rib, he added.

Police arrested a suspect at the scene, Hagan said.

Hagan said he considered the assault a random act of violence and that he did not think his assailant knew him.

“I will continue to visit and continue to patronize downtown businesses, and I will continue to talk about how great the rebirth and renaissance of downtown Youngstown is, he said.