A Renton man escaped serious injury the night of Oct. 28 when a bystander watching a fight stopped an attacker from hitting the victim with a 40-ounce bottle of beer, according to Renton Police.

Police were called at about 7:30 p.m. to a report of a fight in the 2900 block of Northeast Third Street. The fight started after the victim told a group of men inside a mini-mart to stop swearing at the clerk, according to police. The group then turned its attention to him and began verbally assaulting him, according to police.

The group moved outside and a shoving match began between the victim and one of the suspects. The victim, out of the corner of his eye, saw a man approach, lift his arm with a full 40-ounce bottle of beer and start to swing the bottle at his head, according to police.

A bystander, a Renton man, jumped in and blocked the bottle with his arm. There was more shoving and then the crowd dispersed, including the suspect in a taxi. Later, the suspect, a 23-year-old Bellevue man, was detained and positively identified by the victim and the bystander.

The suspect was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.