Two men arrested in Bend bar assault; victim critically injured

(Updating story to reflect outcome of LaPollo case)

Two men were arrested while waiting to board a train at Chemult Tuesday night, accused of assaulting and critically injuring a Bend man at a southeast Bend bar Sunday evening, police said.

Officers responded around 5:40 p.m. Sunday to the Hong Kong Restaurant and Bamboo Room at 530 SE Third Street on a report of a bar fight involving multiple people in the restaurant’s lounge, said Lt. Jason Maniscalco.

The caller advised one man, identified as Paul Thompson, 34, was unconscious and bleeding with an apparent head injury. Maniscalco said arriving officers learned from witnesses that two suspects had fled before police arrived.

Bar employees identified one of the suspects as Earl “Buzzy” Wlliam Shone Jr., 28, Maniscalco said. The other man later was identified by investigators as Jason LaPollo, 23.

An investigation revealed the two men had assaulted Thompson, causing a substantial head injury, the lieutenant said. Thompson remained in the critical care unit at St. Charles Bend late Tuesday night. According to court attorneys, he had brain surgery and part of his skull was removed.

On Tuesday, Bend police detectives received information that LaPollo and Shone Jr. were trying to leave Central Oregon by catching an Amtrak train at the Chemult station, Maniscalco said.

“We had information that they were actually going to leave the area via amtrack and that is nearest amtrack station,” Lt. Clint Burleigh said Wednesday. “Oregon State Police, Deschutes County sheriff’s (deputies) and Bend police detectives went down there to arrest the two individuals that were identified as the suspects in this case.”

The two men were lodged at the county jail in Bend late Tuesday night on charges of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, with initial bail of $110,000. They appeared in court Wednesday to be arraigned, but judge Stephen Forte pushed the date to April 12.

A jail officer said the two suspects were transients from New Jersey. Police identified the victim as a Bend man.

Maniscalco said the suspects and victim were acquaintances, but what sparked the fight was still under investigation. He said no other suspects are being sought at this time.

LaPollo was acquitted of second-degree assault in late May, but pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault, reduced to a Class A misdemeanor, according to online court records. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years probation, with conditions such as no alcohol or drugs and no contact with his co-defendant or the victim.