Man beaten unconscious in Richland baseball bat attack in serious condition

A Pasco man is accused of beating his girlfriend’s ex-husband unconscious with a baseball bat in Richland early Saturday.

The 29-year-old man had stopped by his ex-wife’s birthday party at a duplex on the 600 block of McMurray Avenue just after midnight.

His ex-wife had left the party to go to a Richland bar.

Later, her new boyfriend Jonathan Rosas, 24, had returned to the duplex and was outside packing up lawn furniture after the birthday party, when her ex-husband drove by, according to records.

The man revved his car engine while driving past and then he returned and parked his car to block Rosas in the driveway. As the ex-husband approached him, Rosas grabbed an aluminum bat from his pickup, according to court records.

They were yelling at each other, and then the ex-husband reportedly tried to punch Rosas. The swing missed, and Rosas hit the man in the head, arm and ribs with the bright yellow bat.

Video showed Rosas’ Chevy Silverado pulling away from the area, according to court records.

Rosas’ girlfriend said she found the 29-year-old bleeding from the head in her driveway and took him to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

The ex-husband’s name was not released by police.

The hospital and the victim’s sister called police at 1:15 a.m. to report the assault. Hospital staff said the man had a broken arm, and was “very critical” and could possibly die.

His condition Monday afternoon was not immediately available.

Later Saturday morning, police arrested Rosas at his Pasco home. He was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault.

This story was originally published April 19, 2021 at 10:59 AM.