An Austin man accused of seriously assaulting another man pleaded not guilty to multiple criminal charges Thursday.

Carlos Deon Gibson, 26, faces one count of felony first-degree assault, along with two lesser assault charges. He is scheduled to appear again in Mower County court for a pre-trial hearing May 21.

According to a police report, the scuffle occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on March 6 in the Plaza Lot. When police responded, several witnesses said they had seen Gibson assault a 30-year-old man.

Police asked another man on-scene, Jesse Roberto Baldeagle, 27, to watch Gibson while they attended to the 30-year-old victim and another 29-year-old male who was injured, according to a criminal complaint.

Gibson allegedly started to run, and Baldeagle tackled him. Police then arrested Gibson. Baldeagle also started to scuffle with police and spit at one officer, which led him to be arrested, according to the complaint.

Baldeagle, who was charged with fourth-degree felony assault for attacking a peace officer, later admitted to grabbing and spitting at a cop. He apologized and said he was only trying to help, the complaint states. His arraignment on that charge is scheduled for April 8.

Officers spoke with several other witnesses who were in the Plaza Lot area. One, a 26-year-old woman, said she was in line at the nearby taco stand with the two alleged victims when Gibson began verbally harassing her. When the 30-year-old male victim defended her, Gibson and about four to five others from a nearby car began fighting the group, the complaint states.

Another woman, 25, recorded the fight on tape, which was turned over to police.

The 30-year-old victim suffered several facial lacerations and internal brain bleeding, which was deemed “serious bodily harm,” the complaint states. He was first taken to the Austin Medical Center but later transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, where he was treated and released.

Gibson told authorities that the 30-year-old and the 29-year-old had attacked him from behind and that he was only defending himself. However, several witnesses, including Baldeagle, said they saw him punch the 30-year-old victim in the face.