COLUMBUS, Ind. -- One man was arrested in Bartholomew County after he attacked a man with a baseball bat over an online argument, police say.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, when officers with the Columbus Police Department responded to the intersection of Marr Road and N. National Road on reports of a fight.

The fight began as a disagreement over comments made on social media.

Police found the victim, who said he had been hit in the back of the legs with a baseball bat. He told police he was able to wrestle the bat away from the suspect before he was hit again.

The suspect was later identified as John Pheral, 22, of Columbus.

Witnesses told police Pheral ran across National Road with the bat, hit the victim, then ran into a house on 17th Street.

He faces the following preliminary charges:

Battery with a deadly weapon

Intimidation against a law enforcement officer

Intimidation – threats to commit a forcible felony

Disorderly conduct

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