Probe to decide on upgrade in charges for Newton Falls man

The confrontation appears to have occurred after the victim was accused of driving too fast, police said.

STAFF REPORT

NEWTON FALLS — A 32-year-old Newton Falls man awaits the outcome of an investigation to find out whether he will be charged with a more serious offense after a confrontation he is alleged to have had with a neighbor led to a death.

Christopher Denvir, of Newton Village Apartments on state Route 534, was charged with aggravated assault Monday in Newton Falls Municipal Court.

He pleaded innocent and was released on $25,000 bond with the stipulation that he remain on house arrest until his preliminary hearing, scheduled for Sept. 2 before Newton Falls Municipal Court Judge Phil Vigorito.

Denvir is accused of assaulting David Brooks, 55, of the same apartment building, at about 2 a.m. Saturday on the sidewalk in front of the apartment building.

Brooks died Monday at a Cleveland hospital after being flown there from a Warren hospital, said Newton Falls Police Chief Robert Carlson.

Carlson said he has been told the two men argued after Denvir confronted Brooks about allegedly driving too fast through the apartment complex parking lot.

Words and hand gestures were exchanged before Brooks ended up with severe head injuries, Carlson said. Police found Brooks lying on the concrete sidewalk in front of the apartment building, Carlson said.

Carlson declined to say whether Denvir is accused of throwing a punch or whether alcohol was involved in the incident. Carlson said it is a possibility that Brooks hit his head on the sidewalk.

The investigation was turned over to the Trumbull County Homicide Task Force headed by Detective Sgt. Peter Puzzulo of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department, Carlson said.

It is possible that more serious charges will be filed against Denvir when the task force completes its investigation, Carlson said.