23 year old Vitalino Reyes Jr remains in a coma at the KHMH tonight - and today the man accused of beating him unconscious at the Long Island Bar was arraigned in court. He is 30 year old Leon Gentle, an employee of Yohnny Rosado and a resident of 14 Banak Street.
He was charged with dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Gentle was represented by Audrey Matura-Shepherd who told the court that her client was beaten by the police and forced to participate in an identification parade. Gentle said that the police punched him to the jaw, choked him and stomped on his chest.
Gentle was released on a bail of $7,000 and his case was adjourned until July 24.
Rosado told the press yesterday that his employees were close to him and 20 feet from Reyes Jr when suddenly they saw him on the ground.
But Yoney Vega who works with Reyes Jr gave police a very different account: he said that when he and Reyes reached the door, Gentle blocked them and clubbed Reyes in the back of his head with a pint.
Reyes fell to the ground and Vega alleges that some of Rosado's employees began to kick him and he went unconscious. Vega Gentle also hit him on the left side of his face with the bottle.
All accounts agree that this happened around 6:15 pm on Thursday - but Reyes was not taken to the hospital until after 8:00. Apparently, after the fight police were called and he was taken to the precinct four station in Belama and then later to the KHMH.
Today, Vitalino Reyes Sr told 7News that his son is breathing on his own after being taken off life support. He says Doctors have indicated that this is a sign of improvement.
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