Aggravated Battery Arrest Made in Weekend Bar Fight

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. – Rabun County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a bar fight at the Route 76 Road House Bar and Grill in the 1500 block of Highway 76 in Clayton just after midnight Saturday.

Patrons from the bar called 911 after a fight broke out between two males in the parking lot of the establishment.

One male left the scene before the arrival of law enforcement while the victim, 40-year-old Clayton resident Kenneth Lunn, awaited treatment from EMS.

Lunn, who deputies noted appeared to be intoxicated and antagonistic, was briefly examined by Rabun County Emergency Medical Services before being asked to exit the ambulance due to his unruly behavior.

The owner of Route 76 Road House Bar and Grill, Mark Eskew, and others described Lunn’s conduct toward women on the dance floor as inappropriate.

Several customers notified the house disc jockey, Steve Gillespie, of what was observed, and Gillespie escorted Lunn from the building. Gillespie returned inside to a calm group that wanted to fight Lunn in the parking lot.

The male that left the scene, 37-year-old Stephen Higbee of Franklin, North Carolina, was located by the Clayton Police Department a short distance from the business and subsequently arrested on unrelated traffic offenses.

A family member of Lunn’s contacted the Sheriff’s Office later that morning and stated Lunn’s jaw was broken on both sides.

A follow-up investigation by RCSO Investigators has led to Aggravated Battery charges against Higbee, turned himself in to the Rabun County Detention Center.

Sheriff Chad Nichols reminds bar goers that, “inappropriate behavior or altercations with other patrons should be immediately reported to law enforcement. Let my deputies sort out what happened instead of taking matters into your own hands.”

Anyone with additional information about the fight at Route 76 Road House Bar and Grill on Saturday night is encouraged to call the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office at 706-960-9745.