Bar Fight Leaves Clearwater Man On Life Support With Head Injury

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FL — A Redington Shores man is facing aggravated battery charges following a fight at JD's on the Rocks Restaurant and Lounge in Indian Rocks Beach that left another man on life support with serious head injuries.

Deputies responded to JD's on the Rocks Restaurant and Lounge, 125 Gulf Blvd., at 3:24 p.m. Sunday and discovered 56-year-old Tommy Lee Shytle of Clearwater laying in the parking lot with serious head injuries.

Detectives learned that 34-year-old Brian Joseph Loch of North Redington Beach and his friend, 35-year-old Shawn Steven Sokol of Redington Shores, were drinking together at the bar when Loch became disruptive and challenged Shytle, another bar patron, to a fight outside in the parking lot.

When Shytle went outside to confront Loch, Sokol was already outside out of Shytle's view. Detectives said Sokol suddenly ran up and struck Shytle in the face with a full-force punch.

Witnesses said Shytle was unaware of Sokol's attack and was unable to defend himself. According to detectives, Sokol's punch caused Shytle to fall directly to the ground, striking his head on the asphalt parking lot, resulting in a serious head injury.

Sokol fled the scene and deputies located him hiding nearby.

Shytle was transported to a hospital where he remains in critical condition on life support.