Jacksonville bar fight leads to arrest after officer is bitten

Police responding to a fight outside West Morgan Depot, 213 W. Morgan St., arrested a Jacksonville man in the early hours of Thursday, Nov. 14, 2025, after officers say he bit an officer who was attempting to take him into custody. Authorities received the call at 12:38 a.m. and booked the suspect, identified as Troy D. Fortune Jr., 36, into the Morgan County Detention Facility at 1:17 a.m. He was later released, according to jail records. Court information was not available at the time of publication.

According to the police report, officers were called to the scene for a report of two people fighting in front of the establishment. During the arrest process, Fortune resisted and bit one of the officers. The report did not provide details on the extent of any injuries to the officer or further circumstances that led to the physical confrontation. Fortune faces charges of aggravated battery of a peace officer and resisting a peace officer, charges that carry significant legal consequences if pursued by prosecutors.

For residents and business owners in Morgan County the episode raises overlapping concerns about public safety, the management of late night activity in the downtown district, and the strain such incidents place on law enforcement resources. West Morgan Depot sits in a commercial corridor that supports restaurants and bars and draws nighttime crowds. Incidents of violence, particularly those involving officers, tend to prompt closer scrutiny of venue security practices, police response protocols, and municipal enforcement of ordinances governing alcohol service and crowd control.

This event also highlights transparency and accountability issues in local governance. Jail records confirmed the booking and subsequent release, but court schedules and filings were not available at the time the story was filed. Community members seeking clarity on prosecution decisions or the disposition of the case must rely on public records from the Morgan County courts and the sheriff or police departments. Those records will determine whether prosecutors pursue the aggravated battery charge and whether pretrial conditions are imposed.

Local elected officials and civic groups often use incidents like this to reassess public safety strategies, ranging from targeted police patrols and coordination with business owners to broader discussions about downtown lighting, security staffing, and licensing enforcement. For voters and civic participants, the case offers a prompt to engage with city and county leaders about how night life is managed and how resources are allocated to keep residents and visitors safe.

The case remains open and further developments, including formal court filings and any statements from law enforcement or the district attorney, will clarify the legal path forward and the potential implications for local public safety policy.