LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The Lakewood Police Department has cited a man for disorderly conduct due to his involvement in a fight at a youth baseball game in Lakewood earlier this month. The citation was issued Monday morning.
LPD said it had been looking for Lakewood resident Ean Vigil, 29, since he was seen in a video of the fight that occurred on June 15. He was wearing a white shirt and teal shorts at the time.
Vigil is the sixth person cited in the fight.
“We are continuing to get tips on the identities of other adults involved and expect to issue more citations related to this incident. We cannot thank the public enough for their help identifying the involved parties,” LPD said in an email to FOX31 and Channel 2.
FOX31 asked legal experts why assault charges haven’t been filed.
“Part of the prosecutorial decision is an estimation of whether [prosecutors] can be successful proving a charge beyond a reasonable doubt,” said criminal defense lawyer Kevin Churchill of Denver Criminal Attorney. “When you have a case of just a wild melee of people coming from every different direction … it becomes a very difficult proof problem.”
Churchill says more serious charges — which would result in a jury trial — would require prosecutors to eventually iron out who the true victims are versus the instigators.
“What we don’t know is what’s outside of that video,” Churchill said. “If we are to judge the case based off the video, it seems like a clear-cut case of assault and a clear-cut case of self-defense.”
Vigil lives at an apartment complex in Lakewood. He threatened to call the police when FOX31 stopped by to ask him to go on camera Monday afternoon.
Vigil is due in Lakewood municipal court on July 31.