TEXARKANA, Texas -- The suspect in the alleged assault of a Central Mall employee has been indicted by a Bowie County grand jury.
Daniel Lynn Thomas, 38, of Texarkana, Arkansas, was arrested by Texarkana Texas Police Department in January on a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. He posted bond on $150,000 bail and was released the same day, according to jail records.
Thomas was indicted Thursday, according to court records. He is represented by attorney Jeff Harrelson.
On Jan. 20, TTPD officers were dispatched to Central Mall. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Richard "Jay" Houff with severe facial trauma.
Officers learned that an older female Central Mall employee had earlier reprimanded two unsupervised teenage boys who were horseplaying with a rentable stroller for children. When the employee asked the teens to stop playing, they reportedly became verbally abusive.
Houff reportedly intervened and asked the boys to leave.
A few minutes later, a man later identified as Thomas returned with the two boys and allegedly confronted Houff. He was apparently upset that someone had said something to the boys, police report.
Without warning, Thomas allegedly punched Houff in the face, causing Houff to fall backward. Thomas allegedly stood over the employee and hit him in the face at least four more times. He and the boys then left the mall, according to police.
Houff suffered a concussion and several broken bones around his eyes.
Thomas' case has been assigned to Bowie County's 202nd district court with Judge John Tidwell.