It was 1:09 a.m. on October 27th when officers responded to report of a fight at Wize Guys Sports Lounge located at 1108 South College Avenue.
Arriving officers found a 31-year-old victim lying unconscious in the bar. He was transported to Christiana Hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull and internal bleeding on the brain.
All of the others involved in the fight fled the scene before officers arrived.
Investigators learned that during the fight the victim had been knocked down, and once on the ground, a man kicked him in the head.
Investigators say while attempting to find out more about the incident, 26-year-old Christopher O'Neill, an associate of the bar owner, provided them with false information and lied about his identity.
The next day police contacted the bar owner, 30-year-old Mariano Castelli. According to investigators, Castelli refused to provide video surveillance of the incident or cooperate in any way. So on November 1st, detectives returned to Wize Guys with a search warrant and removed the video surveillance system.
In addition, Castelli and O'Neill were arrested for their attempts to conceal the incident. Castelli was charged with hindering prosecution and released on $1,000 unsecured bail. O'Neill was charged with hindering prosecution, providing a false statement to law enforcement, and criminal impersonation. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
On November 4th, police arrested 25-year-old Ernest Mingo of Bear, Delaware after identifying him as the man who kicked the victim in the head. He was charged with 2nd degree assault and released after posting $2,500 secured bail.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact investigators at 302-366-7110 ext. 133.
