An ordinary night at the bar nearly turned deadly for Ryan Noel.
Noel, a 23-year-old Lansing resident, testified Friday at a preliminary hearing at 54-B District Court that 29-year-old East Lansing resident Frank DeWayne West attacked him outside Reno’s East Side Sportsbar & Grill, 1310 Abbott Road, more than two weeks ago.
Judge Richard D. Ball ruled the testimony of Noel and his girlfriend, Jennifer Kirby, was enough to move the case onto circuit court.
The incident left Noel with three stab wounds to his torso. West is accused of wielding the knife.
Noel said that he first made contact with the suspect when he saw West in the Reno’s parking lot around 2:15 a.m. on Aug. 19.
After making a joke about the suspect, who he suspected was urinating by his car, Noel and three friends walked to their car to leave the restaurant, he said.
Once Noel entered his girlfriend’s car, he said West circled the parking lot and pulled behind Kirby’s vehicle. Noel said he and his friend then exited the car to speak with West.
Noel said he and West had a short verbal exchange, during which Noel said West made a suggestive comment about his girlfriend. Noel then said he called West a derogatory name, causing West to exit his car and stab Noel twice, once in the lower abdomen and once in the left chest.
Noel testified that he told West to “drop the knife and fight like a man” and both men shouted for the other to return to his car.
The victim said West continued to attack him, punching him in the face and stabbing him in the right chest.
Emergency vehicle sirens forced West to return to his car after the tussle, Noel said.
Noel was taken to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital following the stabbing. He said the incident caused damage to his liver, intestinal tract and stomach, requiring surgery.
Kirby testified she saw West drive around the restaurant’s parking lot once before stopping behind the car she owned.
She later said she left the scene before seeing the incident because she decided to walk to a friend’s home – fearful that an altercation would occur between Noel and West. Kirby said she didn’t end up going to the friend’s home but stayed at Reno’s on the patio.
Ball said the testimony of Noel and Kirby revealed West’s impulsive intentions, leading him to uphold the charge.
“There is probable cause to conclude that the assault was essentially unprovoked,” Ball said. “The fair inference … is that the defendant had the intention to kill.”
While Ball upheld the charge, he reduced West’s bond from $1 million to $250,000. West is not expected to post bail.
West has one prior conviction for possession of marijuana. He is scheduled to appear in circuit court on Sept. 12.
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