Two Arrested After St. Petersburg Man Struck in the Head With a Rock and Seriously Injured
According to detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, at about 2:33 p.m. on June 22, 2018, 60-year-old William Clark was standing outside his apartment located at 2702 Grove Park Avenue, in unincorporated St. Petersburg, when he observed two unidentified male subjects trespassing and cutting through the apartment complex parking lot.
Detectives say Clark yelled at the subjects and told them to stay off the property. The subjects left the property and returned carrying rocks and a shovel. Detectives say the subjects threaten Clark with bodily harm and ran after him with the weapons. Clark was able to retreat into his apartment where he called 911.
As the subjects were walking away from Clark’s apartment, 64-year-old Peter Hoffstetter stepped outside of his apartment located at 2664 Grove Park Avenue, and confronted the same two subjects for trespassing.
Detectives say there was a verbal argument between Hoffstetter and the two subjects. During the argument one of the subjects threw a rock and struck Hoffstetter in the head. Hoffstetter fell to the ground and the subjects fled the scene on foot.
When deputies arrived, Hoffstetter was found conscious lying on the ground outside his apartment. Hoffstetter said he was having an argument with two unidentified subjects when he tripped over a parking space curb as he was retreating back to his apartment. Hoffstetter never disclosed that he was struck in the head with a rock.
Paramedics from Lealman Fire Department responded to the scene; however, Hoffstetter refused medical attention and refused to be transported to the hospital. Initially it appeared Hoffstetter had suffered minor injuries as a result of tripping and falling on the ground.
Detectives say later that same evening, Hoffstetter’s medical condition deteriorated and he called for paramedics. Hoffstetter was transported to Bay Pines Veteran’s Hospital where his medical condition worsened.
Hoffstetter was later flown to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg hospital for a head injury that was considered life-threatening.
During the course of the investigation, deputies obtained surveillance video of the incident. The surveillance video confirmed that Hoffstetter was having a verbal argument with two unidentified subjects when one of the subjects threw a rock at Hoffstetter and struck him in the head.
Through various investigative techniques, detectives were able to positively identify the suspects in the video as 19-year-old Jamari Brown and 20-year-old Dayquan Brown. The Sheriff’s Office posted the surveillance photos at approximately 8:54 a.m. on Friday, July 6, 2018.
At about 12:30 p.m. on July 6, 2018, detectives located Jamari and Dayquan Brown at a residence located at 2705 54th Avenue North, unincorporated St. Petersburg.
Detectives interviewed Jamari and he admitted to assaulting Clark and striking Hoffstetter with the rock. Detectives interviewed Dayquan and he admitted to assaulting Clark with a shovel.
Dayquan Brown
Jamari and Dayquan Brown were arrested and transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident at about 12:30 p.m. on July 6, 2018.
Jamari was charged with one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Dayquan was charged with one count of Aggravated Assault.
The investigation continues.