FARGO — A Cass County jail inmate faces a felony assault charge for allegedly knocking another inmate unconscious, a scuffle that was reportedly prompted by repeated farting and a racial slur. 

Court documents filed Wednesday in Cass County District Court allege the incident happened Monday during a confrontation at the jail’s medium security unit between inmates Ahmed Nur Adan, 27, of Fargo, and Timothy Lowseth, 26, of West Fargo. 

According to an arrest synopsis from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Adan and Lowseth were talking next to cell 104, when Adan suddenly punched out Lowseth, knocking him to the ground and leaving him with a cut on the back of his head. 

Lowseth was left lying on the ground with a confused look on his face and a front tooth missing, the report says. 

After ordering everyone back to their cells and separating the two men, a Cass County detective interviewed Adan. 

Adan said for the past three days, Lowseth had been pushing Adan’s buttons by coming into his cell and farting, then leaving. 

He confronted Lowseth about the repeated farting, asking him if Adan had a personal problem with him or with his skin color. 

That was when Lowseth swore at him and called him by a racial slur, Adan said.  He thought Lowseth was about to “sock” him, so he got to him first, he told the detective. 

Lowseth was taken to Sanford Medical Center’s emergency room for treatment. 

The report says Lowseth told the detective Adan had confronted him about the farting, asking him if he wanted to go to another cell to fight, out of view of the jailers. 

Lowseth said he admitted to Adan that he had farted in the day area of the housing unit, but denied doing so in Adan’s cell.  He said he told Adan he did not want to fight, and that if Adan wanted to fight, he would have to fight where they were. 

Next thing he knew, Lowseth told the detective, he woke up and there were correctional officers all around him. 

Adan was charged with aggravated assault, a Class C felony. 

His next court appearance is set for March 19.