Police: Man Charged After Alleged Waffle House Assault

A local man faces charges after Simpsonville police were called to the local Waffle House to investigate an alleged assault to a patron in the restaurant's parking lot, a police report said.

That case is still under investigation, but police said that the suspect in the Waffle House incident was charged for a prior assault and battery after he was located some time after the alleged assault at the restaurant, the report said.

According to police, Aaron Bankins (age and address not given), was located at a nearby Motel 6 after he allegedly struck a man several times in the face after both had parked in the restaurant's lot, the report said. The victim alleged he was struck after he asked Bankins why he was hinking his horn at an elderly man trying to back out, the report said.

Bankins then allegedly parked beside the victim and punched him in the face before getting back into his SUV and driving away. He was spotted a while later at a Motel 6 and confronted by police over the incident, the report said.

After approaching the suspect at the motel, Bankins allegedly became very hostile and uncooperative, hurling profanities at a police officer, the report said. The officer said he then recognized the suspect, whom he had recently signed an arrest warrant for on an unrelated assault charge, the report said.

When police tried to arrest Bankins, he allegedly became combative and resisted arrest, prompting another officer to arrive to help subdue him, the report said. "During this entire time, Mr. Bankins was 'buckish' and yelling profanities," the report stated.

Eventually cuffed, Bankins was transported to the county detention and charged with assault and resisting arrest, the report said, while the Waffle House case remains active. Bankins was booked on a combined $3,000 bond and later released.