Crime

Syracuse police arrest man on assault charge, accuse him of smashing broken beer bottle on someone’s head

UPDATED: Sept. 21, 2014 at 10:30 p.m.

A Syracuse man was arrested early Sunday morning in the East neighborhood after police say he smashed a broken beer bottle on the back of someone’s head, causing bleeding that sent him to the hospital.

Martin Hillenbrand, 25, of 810 Maryland Ave., was arrested on a charge of assault — a felony — as well as criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Sunday and is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond, according to jail records. It was not immediately clear whether Hillenbrand has retained an attorney.

Syracuse police said the victim, 21, ran over to an officer out on patrol at about 1 a.m. on the 700 block of Euclid Avenue to get his attention. The officer gave first aid to the man until an ambulance arrived to take him to Upstate University Hospital.

The victim is not a student, said Kevin Quinn, Syracuse University senior vice president for public affairs, in an email.



An investigation led police to Hillenbrand’s home, where they arrested him.

Sgt. Gary Bulinski, a police spokesman, said it’s unclear why the attack happened, or if Hillenbrand and the victim knew one another. The victim’s name is not being released at this time. Bulinski said he did not know whether the victim was still in the hospital.

The owner of the home on Maryland Avenue, who declined to give his name, said Hillenbrand was “very quiet” and had been renting a room from him since this June or July for some money — though he could not recall how much. They met through a friend who mentioned Hillenbrand needed a place to stay.

He did not know whether Hillenbrand has a job, but said he blows glass. The owner said he was driving in the neighborhood earlier in the day and saw police cars, not thinking they were at his home.

“I don’t ask too many questions of people unless they tell me stuff,” the owner said.

Hillenbrand’s next court date is set for Thursday.





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