Alcohol & violence

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Herbert Woerpel III celebrated the near-end of spring finals week by a night at the bar with his friends.

As the Greenville junior and his friends walked out of Wayside Central, 2000 S. Mission St., shortly after closing time in the early morning of April 30, an unknown assailant or assailants struck the back of Woerpel’s head.

Woerpel blacked out and later awoke at Central Michigan Community Hospital, 1221 South Drive.

“My ear was bleeding. My head was bleeding, and I had no idea was going on,” he said. “I just was going out to have a good time.”

He was in critical condition for three days at Sparrow Hospital’s trauma unit in Lansing.

The assault on Woerpel at the Wayside is not an isolated incident. Police reports list at least 14 assaults — 11 simple assaults and three aggravated assaults — have taken place since 2002 at 2000 S. Mission St., an address that the Wayside and O’Kelly’s Irish Sports Bar and Grille share.

The number of assaults at the Wayside and O’Kelly’s is the highest of any Mount Pleasant bar or tavern, according to a Central Michigan Life survey of Mount Pleasant Police Department records from Jan. 1, 2002 to May 15.

Almost half of all assault incidents at bars have taken place at Wayside and O’Kelly’s.

“I don’t consider that number very high when you consider the number of people who come here,” said Norm Smith, co-owner of the Wayside and O’Kelly’s.

The Wayside has a maximum capacity of 880 people. O’Kelly’s has a maximum capacity of 245 people.

Following the Wayside/O’Kelly’s in number of assaults since the start of 2001 is The Main Lounge, 807 S. Mission St., with five — three aggravated assaults and two simple assaults.

A manager at The Main Lounge declined an interview request.

Since Jan. 1, 2002, at least 29 simple and aggravated assaults have taken place at Mount Pleasant bars or taverns. More incidents of assault go unreported, said Mount Pleasant Police Department Public Relations Officer Chuck Morrison.

At least two simple assaults have occurred at Shaboom Pub Club, 106 Court St., since Jan. 1, 2002. The number of assaults at the Pub, said Owner Richard Swindlehurst, do not amount to much when one considers that 800 people on average visit the bar throughout any given Thursday night. The Pub has a maximum capacity of 510 people.

Smith and Swindlehurst both agree that the number of assaults outside Mount Pleasant bars and taverns does not indicate a problem.

Still, Woerpel knows the problem is there.

“I want whoever attacked me from behind to take responsibility and pay for what they’ve done,” he said.