Man charged with attempted murder in head stomping case outside Glendale bar

A 41-year-old Glendale man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that two days before he tried killing another man by stomping on his head multiple times near Dave’s Bar, officials said.

Donovan Emsworth was charged with one felony count each of attempted murder and assault by means likely to commit great bodily injury against William Ronald Kirk Jr., according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint.

Kirk remained hospitalized Thursday at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was being treated for head trauma, according to Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

Kirk, 39, of La Crescenta is expected to recover from his injuries, Lorenz added.

Witnesses told officers they saw Emsworth allegedly yelling at Kirk before punching him twice outside the bar near the corner of East Broadway and Glendale Avenue.

After Kirk was knocked to ground, police said, witnesses reportedly saw Emsworth stomp on Kirk’s head. Onlookers detained Emsworth until officers arrived at the scene.

A separate case is pending against Emsworth for a July 2012 incident, in which assault, battery and a restraining order violation were alleged to have occurred, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

He is scheduled to appear April 30 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
-- Veronica Rocha, veronica.rocha@latimes.com

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