St. Pete Brothers Arrested For Hitting Man In Head With Rock

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested two brothers for attacking one man with a shovel and throwing a rock and seriously injuring another man on June 22.

According to detectives, 60-year-old William Clark was standing outside his apartment at 2702 Grove Park Ave. in unincorporated St. Petersburg when he saw 19-year-old Jamari Brown and 20-year-old Dayquan Brown cutting through the apartment complex parking lot.

Detectives say Clark yelled at the brothers to stay off the property. The two young men left but returned carrying rocks and a shovel.

Detectives say they then threatened Clark and one of them attacked Clark with the shovel. Clark retreated into his apartment where he called 911.

As the brothers were walking away from Clark's apartment, 64-year-old Peter Hoffstetter stepped out of his apartment at 2664 Grove Park Ave., and also confronted the Browns for trespassing.

A verbal argument ensued between Hoffstetter and the Browns during which one of the young men threw a rock and struck Hoffstetter in the head. Hoffstetter fell to the ground and the brothers fled the scene.

When deputies arrived, Hoffstetter was conscious but lying on the ground outside his apartment. He claimed he got into an argument with two young men and tripped over a parking space curb as he was retreating back to his apartment. He didn’t tell deputies he had been struck in the head with a rock.

Paramedics from Lealman Fire Department responded to the scene but Hoffstetter refused medical treatment or to be transported to the hospital. Initially, it appeared Hoffstetter had suffered minor injuries.

Detectives say later that same evening Hoffstetter's medical condition deteriorated and he called for paramedics. He was transported to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital where his condition worsened. He was then flown to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg to be treated for a life-threatening head injury.

During the course of the investigation, deputies obtained surveillance video confirming that Hoffstetter got into a verbal argument with the brothers and one threw a rock at his head.

Detectives were able to positively identify Browns and, at 12:30 p.m. July 6, detectives arrested them at their home at 2705 54th Ave. N. in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

Following an interview with detectives, Jamari Brown admitted to throwing the rock at Hoffstetter and Dayquan Brown admitted to assaulting Clark with a shovel.

They were transported to the Pinellas County Jail where Jamari Brown was charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Dayquan Brown was charged with one count of aggravated assault.

Images via Pinellas Sheriff

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