A 26-year-old Escalon man is being sought by police in the death of Ripon resident Aaron Messick, 36, who died Sunday as a result of a fight at a bar in the 1700 block of Main Street when he was punched and fell and hit his head.
Escalon Police said suspect Rocky Overturf and Messick were reportedly involved in a verbal confrontation inside the Valley Inn with Overturf leaving the bar in a dark colored vehicle, according to a witness report.   Messick left the bar a short time later by a rear door as Overturf returned and drove to the rear of the bar as Messick was leaving and confronted him, striking the Ripon resident, and causing him to fall and strike his head on the ground, police said.  The victim died as a result of the fall.
Escalon Police Chief Mike Borges said the call came into his dispatcher at 12:23 a.m. Sunday reporting a man down in the alley behind the bar. 
“They were doing CPR on him when we arrived,” the chief said of his officers responding to a 911 call. “We have gotten a lot of tips, have been running down a lot of leads,  but so far no luck.” 
A photograph of Overturf released by the police department shows him with facial hair, but Burgess said that – according to witnesses – he is now clean shaven and appears slightly different. Messick died of “trauma to the head,” according to an autopsy report, the chief added.
Countless reports of the incident by witnesses have been posted on a Facebook page.
Anyone knowing of Overturf’s whereabouts, or who had been a witness to the confrontation, is urged to contact Detective Anthony Hardgraves with the Escalon Police Department at 209.838.7093. 
Messick is the son of Garry and Terry Messick, both previous longtime teachers at Ripon High School and Colony Oak School in Ripon respectively.  Garry was an eighth grade teacher who recently retired and Terry taught music and theater arts at Ripon High. Messick is a graduate of Ripon High School. The Messicks were long known as a musical family with their own small band that often played at school musical social events.
A Gofundme.com account has been opened online in Aaron’s name to help with donations for the needs of the family during their difficult time setting up Aaron’s funeral.  As of Tuesday noon there was a total of $8,000 collected in his name.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.