NORWICH– A 31-year-old man residing in Norwich was charged with first-degree assault after allegedly beating another man with a baseball bat, causing severe injuries.

Norwich Police Chief Reuben J. Roach said the incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the Clinton Street residence of the defendant, Dylan Charles Cole, and the conflict related to a custody dispute.

The Norwich Police Department said in a press release that Cole approached a 35-year-old male with a BB gun and metal baseball bat and supposedly proceeded to strike the man’s face multiple times with the bat.

The 35-year-old victim suffered multiple fractures to both sides of his jaw and lost numerous teeth, Roach said.

First responders initially took the victim to UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital but later transported him to SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse to receive multiple surgeries, Roach said.

“Thanks to the fast-acting staff at Chenango Memorial Hospital, the victim was taken to a trauma center for immediate surgery,” he said in the press release.

Roach said the victim “has a long road of recovery ahead of him.”

Cole was arraigned at Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) court and held on a $1,000 cash bail, the press release said. He is set to reappear in court at a later date.

Roach said he is unaware of who reported the incident and could not share further information about the custody dispute, but he acknowledged the severity of cases like this.

Those who are involved in an assault case should immediately call 911, report the assault and seek medical attention, Roach said.