A probable cause affidavit details the events that led to the death of one Oklahoma man and the arrest of his coworker following an argument in a brewery parking lot in Odessa.
The Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit detailed that a 40-year-old Oklahoma man died from head trauma after he was hit several times by a 33-year-old man.
Lester Robert Bland, 40, of Oklahoma, died at 5:11 p.m. Tuesday, an OPD press release stated. Bland was listed in critical condition Tuesday morning.
Jose Bernabe Ballardo, 33, of Oklahoma — who was originally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony — has had his charge upgraded to murder, a first-degree felony.
OPD responded for a medical call at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday at Frisky Brewery located at 7050 Tres Hernanas Boulevard, an OPD probable cause affidavit detailed.
The affidavit stated that through witnesses and video surveillance officers were able to determine Bland had been in an argument with Ballardo, a coworker, at the brewery. Bland and Ballardo exited the brewery and Ballardo punched Bland twice in the head, knocking him to the ground and then Ballardo struck Bland in the head a third time while Bland was defenseless.
Ballardo reportedly admitted to a detective that he physically assaulted Bland.
Ballardo was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on Tuesday morning, jail records show. He was still in custody as of Wednesday afternoon and bond hasn’t been set.
