KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a night club bouncer who's accused of dropping a bar patron on his head, resulting in a traumatic head injury.
Witnesses of the alleged assault outside Jack Didley's on July 4th of last year, took the stand Tuesday to tell the court what they saw that night.
The witnesses described the noises they heard and even demonstrated the physical contact between the bouncer Matthew Hibbard and the club goer Ben Ensign.
According to police reports, on July 4th 2012 Ben Ensign was asked to leave Jack Didley's for causing a disturbance.
Ensign, who was intoxicated, left the club and then returned trying to re-enter.
Police said security manager Matthew Hibbard grabbed Ensign around the neck and another bouncer took him by the legs. Reports say Hibbard then dropped Ensign on the ground.
Tuesday in court, witnesses described what they saw that night.
"I saw the defendant take his hands from the choke hold he had. One of his hands, he placed on the victim's chest and then drive him into the ground with acceleration. So loudly that it sounded like a small explosion. Like taking a lighter and throwing it on the ground. It was just the loudest pop I've heard in a long time."
Prosecuting attorney Andy Miller ask a witness if she noticed Ensign hit the ground.
"Yeah, you could hear it. It sounded like a cinder block hitting the concrete. I was, words can't describe how bad it sounded," said the witness.
Witness Daniel Peiffer demonstrated on prosecutor Andy Miller how he saw Hibbard hold Ensign.
Peiffer said before Hibbard dropped Ensign, Ensign gave up struggling against the hold.
"He passed out from what I got, from what I could see because he threw his arms up and said he was done, he wanted to go," Peiffer said.
Peiffer then described Hibbard quickly releasing Ensign.
"It was just a sudden drop. You move your hands out like that. He just moved his hands out like that."
Ensign spent several weeks at Kadlec Regional Medical Center on life support and currently is in a rehabilitation facility in Spokane.
Hibbard is charged with third degree assault.
The trial will continue Wednesday with the defense.
