Officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department have arrested 54 year-old Darren McFarland for manslaughter after striking a 63 year-old man earlier this month.
According to police, McFarland, a manager at Hops and Props, attempted to remove Bruce Senesac from the bar located at 335 2nd Avenue NE. Senesac was reportedly panhandling at the location on February 3, 2021 at 3:24 p.m. According to the arrest affidavit, two witnesses reported that McFarland “slapped or punched” Senesac in the face causing him to fall backwards and strike his head on the ground.
Police found him unresponsive and he was taken to the hospital. He never regained consciousness and died on February 9, 2021.
McFarland was arrested and charged with manslaughter on February 11, 2021 and booked into the Pinellas County Jail.