Staff Report / May 22, 2026
New information released by Bath Village Police has shed light on the incident that prompted a large law enforcement response at the Super 8 Motel on West Morris Street earlier this week.
According to police, officers were initially dispatched to the motel shortly after 5 p.m. on May 20 for a report of an intoxicated and unconscious man who may have fallen and struck his head. When officers arrived, they found a 39-year-old male suffering from severe injuries and in an incapacitated condition inside the motel. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in guarded condition. Investigators later determined the injuries were the result of an alleged violent assault rather than an accidental fall. Police said the incident appeared to be isolated and that the individuals involved were known to one another.
As the investigation progressed, police arrested three men in connection with the alleged attack. Charged with first-degree gang assault, a felony, were 61-year-old William Hargrave and 25-year-old Cheyne Bonnewell, both residents of the motel, and 34-year-old Adam El-Gaaly, who police described as homeless and originally from Rochester. Authorities allege all three men participated in the assault that left the victim seriously injured.
Hargrave also faces an additional charge of first-degree robbery. Police allege he was found in possession of personal property belonging to the victim at the time of his arrest. Authorities noted that Hargrave has multiple prior felony convictions in New York State.
All three defendants were arraigned and remanded to the Steuben County Jail. Hargrave was ordered held without bail, while Bonnewell and El-Gaaly were each held on $150,000 cash bail. Police say the investigation remains active and that additional charges may be filed as the case moves forward. As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
