AFTERNOON VIOLENCE: Man beaten by loan collector… fought back with...

Top photo: The man who was allegedly swinging the bat…

Above photo: The man who was allegedly collecting the loan…

HYANNIS – A man was taken to CCH today after allegedly being struck in the face by a man collecting a loan.

At about 2:22pm, police rushed to the Salvation Army parking lot for a fight, with one of the combatants reportedly swinging a bat.

An employee of the nearby homeless shelter arrived prior to police and broke up the fight. Police arrived moments later, separated both men, and listened to everyone’s side of the story.

Children from the neighborhood paused and watched the scene, which included a parking lot full of squad cars and an ambulance. One of the children wanted to know if someone was badly hurt…

The man who was struck by the loan collector had a lump under his right eye the size of a Tootsie Pop. He was taken to CCH for evaluation and to have his face checked for fractures. He was able to walk to the ambulance and his injuries did not appear life-threatening…

The man collecting the loan was treated at the scene for a laceration on his knuckles.

The loan collector was allegedly the aggressor. The man who was beaten in the face allegedly fought back wielding a baseball bat.

According to police sources, both men are facing serious criminal charges.

Christopher Scales, age 46, was arrested at the scene and charged with Assault and Battery. Scales also received a separate felony charge of Assault and Battery to Collect a Loan. He was transported to BPD Headquarters for booking and processing.

Under Massachusetts Law, Chapter 265 entitled “Crimes Against the Person,” Section 13C states:

“Whoever commits an assault and battery upon another for the purpose of collecting a loan shall for the first offense be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than three nor more than five years or by imprisonment for not more than two and one half years in a jail or house of correction; and for a second or subsequent offense, by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five nor more than ten years. Except in the case of a conviction for the first offense for violation of this section, the imposition or execution of the sentence shall not be suspended and no probation or parole shall be granted until the minimum imprisonment herein provided for the offense shall have been served.”

The man who was allegedly swinging the bat will also be charged…

Scott Warren, age 44, will be charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

Both men were said to be homeless. Scales is homeless in the Hyannis area. Warren has family ties on Martha’s Vineyard, but now also finds himself in the Hyannis area.