Brawl leads to arrests

Last updated 6/11/1996 at Noon

A volatile combination of alcohol and an excess of wild west attitude landed two men in jail over rodeo weekend and left a Deschutes County Sheriff's deputy with minor injuries.

According to police, deputies and other law enforcement officers responded shortly after midnight on June 7-8 to a report of an altercation at the Hotel Sisters.

Police reported that they were able to get the fight broken up and were attempting to remove the disruptive patrons from the premises when a friend of one of those involved in the altercation interfered with police.

Deputy Rob Short reported that Gregory Lee Floyd, 39, of Bend, "took exception" to police removing his friend from the tented deck of the hotel and shoved Short repeatedly.

Short told The Nugget that he tried to calm Floyd down and explain that his friend was not under arrest, but Floyd allegedly grabbed Short's hands and forced them up over the deputy's head. At that point, Short reported, the deputy kneed the man in the midsection and other officers closed in to attempt to restrain Floyd.

They wrestled Floyd to the ground, but he reportedly proved difficult to restrain and police reported that other patrons grabbed at officers, interfering with their efforts.

After warning patrons, Short ultimately used a short burst from a canister of pepper spray to control Floyd. Police reported that private security were able to handcuff Floyd and get him to his feet, whereupon he allegedly tried to head-butt Deputy Short.

Floyd was arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct. Morris Kent Ledford, 31, of Caldwell, Idaho, who was involved in the original altercation, was also arrested for disorderly conduct.

Trent Cutsforth was later taken into custody by private security at the hotel when he attempted to return to the premises after being removed during the altercation.

Deputy Short suffered some scratches and bruises and a dislocated thumb.

The fight was the only serious incident over he rodeo weekend. Police reported that Saturday night was calm throughout the town.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.