Myrtle Beach police investigate assault after noise dispute

Myrtle Beach police charged a 27-year-old man with public intoxication after officers learned he had a confrontation with a 45-year-old man early Tuesday, according to a report.

Benjamin Louis Ponta, 27, was charged with public intoxication after officers were called about 1 a.m. Tuesday to a home in the 200 block of Oak Street for an assault, police said.

Jack Rabon, 45, told officers that Ponta and another man were walking by his home and being loud so he asked them to be quieter, according to the report. Rabon said Ponta walked to the second step of his porch and cursed at him.

Rabon said he told Ponta to stop and not to come onto his property, but Ponta ignored him, according to the report. Rabon said when Ponta got to his porch he kicked him in the chest, which caused Ponta to fall to the ground.

Ponta told police that Rabon walked off his porch with the gun in his hand and kicked him twice in the chest and Ponta fell back toward the porch, according to the report.

Rabon said he had a gun in his hand, but he didn’t point it at the other man and he was protecting his property, according to the report. Officers noted the assault appeared to be justified and did not charge Rabon.

A witness told police he saw Ponta walk onto Rabon’s property and onto the porch before Rabon kicked him, according to the report. Ponta was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center with complaints of back and wrist pain.

This story was originally published July 23, 2014 at 6:47 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach police investigate assault after noise dispute."