A 50-year-old Independence man died Wednesday at a Kansas City hospital from head injuries suffered during an altercation at an auction house on Truman Road.
Faron Rosendale, who Independence police say was on life support, died at the hospital, according to a spokeswoman at North Kansas City Hospital.
Also on Wednesday, the man authorities say put Rosendale in that hospital, Morris E. Grimes, 35, appeared before a Jackson County Circuit judge for the first time.
Jackson County prosecutors charged Grimes, also of Independence, with felony second-degree assault. They accuse Grimes of punching Rosendale, causing severe head trauma.
The judge set Grimes’ bond at $100,000. He is being held at the Jackson County Detention Center.
Rosendale was still alive when police announced Grimes was going to be charged with assault. Police detectives now will ask the Jackson County Medical Examiner to determine a cause of death so they can present a case to prosecutors for possibly more severe charges, according to police.
The fight happened late Sunday night at the Majestic Auction House at 10112 E. Truman Road.
Rosendale, an employee of Majestic, was found unconscious Monday morning.
Grimes told detectives he hit Rosendale once with a closed fist, according to court records released Wednesday.
Rosendale asked Grimes if he wanted to drink beer with him on Sunday night. Rosendale gave him beer money and Grimes bought two 12-packs of beer, according to the documents.
Rosendale had been drinking before he and Grimes started, and Grimes told officers Rosendale started throwing items at the auction house. Grimes told him to calm down but he continued to break things. That’s when Grimes hit him.
Rosendale fell on the floor near the front door. Grimes poured beer on him. Rosendale was breathing when Grimes checked him.
Grimes locked the door and left in Rosendale’s vehicle sometime between 12:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.
Grimes went to a friend’s house and told the friends what happened.
Grimes is the grandson of Leroy Dillon, the sole owner of Majestic. Dillon told police several tables and other furniture were knocked over and a large mirror was broken. Beer bottles littered the place.
Dillon told authorities they should find Grimes because he suspected there might have been a fight between Grimes and Rosendale.
Dillon could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Police found Grimes shortly after officers arrived at Grimes’ friend’s house. He had left the residence on foot shortly before officers arrived, according to the court records.
Prosecutors listed Grimes as a persistent offender because he pleaded guilty to domestic assault in 2003 and 2004 in separate incidents, which could mean an extended punishment.
A judge had placed him on probation.
