UPDATE: Faris Parker turned himself in at the Blanchester Police Department late Monday afternoon, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt.

BLANCHESTER —Blanchester Police are searching for a felon — recently released from prison — they say assaulted two men early Friday, June 24.

According to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt, at around 1:30 a.m. police responded to Ron’s Place, a bar at 126 S. Broadway Street, on a report of a fight. Officers arrived and say they found that an unidentified person had assaulted two men at the bar and then fled.

The men allegedly assaulted were William Blankenbeckler, 37 of Midland, and an employee of the establishment, Steven Rorick, 50, of Blanchester. Neither man required hospitalization.

“Officers found items at the scene that were dropped by the assailant, including an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction prison release document issued to Faris Parker on June 22, 2016, as well as an appointment reminder from an Ohio parole officer,” Reinbolt said. “Witnesses were interviewed and it was determined that the man who committed the assault was Faris Parker, 32, whose whereabouts are not known.

“According to witnesses, Parker had been in the bar drinking for several hours, the barmaid refused to serve him any more alcoholic beverages, he was asked to leave by the bar owner, then assaulted the two men and fled,” Reinbolt said. “He was last seen in the company of Allyson Paul of Loveland, Ohio.”

Reinbolt said Parker was released from prison last Wednesday after serving time on a burglary conviction from Clinton County.

“He was convicted of that offense in August of 2015. It appears he remained law abiding for around 48 hours before committing this crime,” Reinbolt said. He added Parker’s parole officer issued an order for his arrest Friday afternoon but was not able to locate him.

Blanchester police have charged Parker with two counts of misdemeanor assault and are in the process of obtaining warrants for his arrest as of Monday afternoon, Reinbolt said.

He said Parker “has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for felonious assault, domestic violence, illegal manufacture of drugs, burglary, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drugs.

“I am frankly confounded by a criminal justice system that returned an individual with such a violent and extensive criminal record to our community after serving less than a year in prison,” Reinbolt added.

Anyone who knows Parker’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Blanchester Police Department.