AVON LAKE — Two Cleveland men were arrested Friday on charges they deliberately hit two women with a pickup in the parking lot of McCarthy’s Ale House shortly after 1 a.m. and then left the scene, officials said.

Donald Richard, 39, who police say was driving the black Ford-150 pickup, was being held in the county jail on two counts of felonious assault and possession of criminal tools, sheriff’s Capt. Richard Resendez said.

Richard’s passenger, Frank Spurlock, 32, was being held on two counts of complicity in felonious assault.

Avon Lake police Sgt. Fran Tibbitts said the two women, whose names were not released, were transported to St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake.

A 21-year-old woman from Rocky River, was treated and released, and the second, a 29-year-old woman from Sheffield Lake, was listed in stable condition, he said.

“An argument occurred outside the bar and after it was broke up, the two males were escorted off the premises,” Tibbitts said.

The men got in the truck and drove it toward the patrons standing outside the entrance, Tibbitts said, adding that a crowd of 10 to 15 people had gathered outside. It is unknown how many people were involved in the argument, but Tibbitts said the two women were innocent bystanders. It is also unknown what sparked the argument, Tibbitts said, but the investigation is ongoing.

People called police with descriptions of the truck as they watched it leave McCarthy’s, located on the corner of Moore and Walker roads, and then travel east on Walker Road.

Avon police stopped the truck on state Route 83 by Lowe’s, Tibbitts said.

They held the two men until Avon Lake police arrived to make the arrest.

“Alcohol was a factor. The driver was given field sobriety tests but he refused the breath test,” Tibbitts said of the hit and run. “This is a very unusual, very isolated and very severe incident of violence. It’s unfortunate.”

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com

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