A North Platte man is behind bars after he allegedly assaulted his roommate and got mouthy with Lincoln County deputies over smoking on county property.

At around 9:32 a.m. on Thursday, a North Platte Police officer responded to the report of an assault in the 100 block of South Jeffers Street.  The assault had allegedly occurred at another location.

The officer met with the victim who indicated that he lives in the 300 block of West D Street.  He advised that Brandon Fowler had been staying with him for the past month.

The victim stated that the previous evening, Fowler had been at the home intoxicated and was playing the stereo extremely loud.  The victim was awoken by the music and noticed his cell phone was missing.

He then allegedly went to the living room, turned down the stereo and asked Fowler where his phone was.

The victim reported that Fowler immediately got up from the couch, made a verbal threat and began punching him in the face repeatedly.

Investigator John Deal said the victim had visible cuts and swelling on his face, and it was later discovered at the hospital that a bone in his face was broken.

While the officer was meeting with the victim, Fowler showed up in the parking lot at the jail and was contacted by a deputy for illegally smoking a cigarette on county property.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, when the deputy asked Fowler to put out the cigarette, he became rather verbal and walked off the property.

A short time later, Fowler returned, smoking again.

Another deputy made contact with him and told him to stop smoking and to leave the property immediately.

Fowler chose not to leave the property and called the deputy a “punk.”

He was arrested and charged with 2nd degree trespassing and loitering about a penal institution.

Later, Fowler was contacted by North Platte Police and charged with aggravated assault for the assault on his roommate.

He remains in custody at the Lincoln County Detention Center.