Stafford, VA. Deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office detained a juvenile for felonious assault on Wednesday afternoon after he punched a woman in the face in the area of Stafford Marketplace.

On April 25, 2018 at approximately 3:28 p.m., Deputy Elliott Taylor responded to a call regarding a fight in progress at Stafford Marketplace. Upon arrival, the deputy learned the fight took place in the parking lot of the Applebee’s restaurant. The deputy observed a female subject crying on the ground and a male subject, later identified as the perpetrator of the assault, was standing nearby.

The deputy spoke to two witnesses who advised that two male subjects were fighting in the parking lot and a woman was standing in between them trying to break up the fight. One of the subjects punched the woman in the face, knocking her on the ground. The subject then ran inside the restaurant and came back out with a knife. In the meantime, the other subject was leaving the scene in his vehicle.

While rescue personnel were treating the victim, the deputy noticed her lip was swollen and she had a chipped tooth. The victim confirmed the witnesses’ story. Shortly thereafter, the other subject involved in the fight returned to the scene and also confirmed the story.

During the investigation at the scene, the suspect, identified as a juvenile, asked a female subject to go inside the restaurant to get his sweatshirt. A clear bag of marijuana was later located by deputies in the pockets of the sweatshirt.

A detention order for felonious assault was issued and served on the juvenile who punched the victim. The juvenile was also charged with possession of marijuana. He is being held at Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center.