An Augusta man was charged with battery and false imprisonment on Thursday, Dec. 8 after an evening of drunken exuberance that left one person unconscious.
Richmond County deputies arrested Noah Garcia, 29, of Augusta after he became rowdy at the Rack and Grill II bar located at 3801 Mike Padgett Highway, according to a Sheriff’s Office incident report.
According to the report, Garcia was so intoxicated that he was wandering around the business drinking other people’s drinks. The report states Garcia eventually went outside to look for his Uber. He would walk up to patrons in the parking lot asking if they were his Uber driver.
The situation escalated when Garcia approached Calvin Howard, 62, of Augusta who was going into the bar. Video footage from the Rack and Grill II bar showed that Garcia walked up to Howard’s driver-side door and began speaking to him as Howard tried to exit his vehicle. Seconds later, Garcia punched Howard in the chin causing Howard to fall to the ground and strike his head on the pavement. The fall left Howard unconscious
According to the report, deputies observed Garcia reach inside the vehicle and take Howard’s keys before placing his right foot on Howard’s back to prevent him from moving.
Bar and Grill staff and patrons said they came outside after the event occurred and did not witness it, according to the report. They added in statements to deputies that when they came outside to see what was happening, Garcia was running in circles in the parking lot and screaming before attempting to flee in his Uber. When the patrons informed the Uber driver of the situation, he left without Garcia.
Augusta Fire Engine 17 responded to the scene and treated Howard but advised him to go to the hospital. Howard’s wife, Eleanor Howard, 62, transported him to a nearby hospital.
