A violent altercation in Iola has led to the arrest of four people.
Last Monday, the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to South Fork Lane in Iola around 4 am due to a call about a violent altercation.
Upon arrival, authorities interviewed witnesses who stated that there was a victim who was beaten and stripped of his clothing before being forced into a vehicle with the other individuals committing the aggression. Witnesses said that the man was taken into a pasture and intensely beaten with firearms and at one point, a knife was brandished at his throat with his life being threatened.
The next day, May 21st, the suspects were arrested in Northeast Houston. Investigators learned from suspects during an interview that the victim had burglarized his home in College Station one week prior to this incident.
It was further advised that contact was made with the victim to purchase narcotics after contact was made with him via social media by other suspects involved. It was learned that the victim came to an apartment, where the suspects drove him to rural Grimes County and proceeded to beat him. The victim was said to have extensive head injuries.
The four arrested are identified at 21 year old Chastiti Elizabeth Clark of Iola, 18 year old Naomi Lynn Durfee of Livingston, then 22 year old Carl Ray Holmes Jr and 21 year old Sebastian Portales, both of Bryan. All are charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, engaging in organized criminal activity and unlawful restraint exposed with serious bodily injury.
The investigation is ongoing and no other information is being released at this time.