Arrest Follows Lunch Break Fight at Construction Site

Middletown police arrested John Lopes, 34, of 570 Elm St. New Bedford, MA, Wednesday around 3pm, charging him with misdemeanor assault following a lunch break fight that occurred earlier in the day, according to police reports.

The two men were framing a new building for Colony Drywall just inside the U.S. Naval Base near Gate 10 off Coddington Highway when an argument erupted over a work-related issue, the victim told police.

Since Navy authorities were first on scene, Middletown police met with and interviewed the victim at Newport Hospital, where he was treated for nasal tissue damage. The victim told police that Lopes had allegedly punched him in the face and again repeatedly while he was on the ground.

Lopes reportedly turned himself in at Middletown Police Department headquarters Wednesday around 3pm and, in his statement, allegedly admitted to punching the victim once when the argument escalated, but not multiple times.

The altercation took place during a lunch break after all other co-workers had left, so no witnesses were present, police reported.

Lopes was processed and immediately released.