Four teenagers were charged with aggravated battery, accused by sheriff's deputies of attacking a man at his home with a baseball bat, pool cue, fists and feet.
The beating took place about 2:50 a.m. Sunday when the teens visited the victim, whose name sheriff's deputies did not release, at his Eden Street home near Zephyrhills, according to a sheriff's report. When the victim's back was turned, 18-year-old Kristopher Gutierrez of 37117 Kyle Drive, Zephyrhills, struck him in the back of the head with a baseball bat, the report said.
When the victim fell to the ground, Gutierrez and the three other teens continued to strike him with the bat, a pool cue, fists and feet, the report said. As he tried to get up, the victim was hit in the right side of the head.
The report said he later needed 27 staples at the emergency room to close the wound and likely suffered a mild concussion.
The other three defendants are: 15-year-old William Horwath of 39619 Meadowwood Loop, Zephyrhills; 17-year-old Chase Gutierrez, who has the same address as Kristopher; and 17-year-old Jose Daniel Arriaga of 5437 Genevieve Circle, Zephyrhills.
Kristopher Gutierrez was released from the Land O'Lakes jail on $10,000 bail.
The other three were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
Masked bandit uses shotgun to rob pizza store
NEW PORT RICHEY - A man with a sawed-off shotgun robbed a Hungry Howie's late Sunday, making off with money from two workers and the cash register, authorities said.
The robber entered the store at 9109 Ridge Road through the front door about 11:45 p.m. and pointed a weapon at a clerk, a sheriff's report said. The robber demanded money and the clerk gave him some from his pocket.
The robber also took money from the register. When the robber saw another worker, he ordered both employees to sit below a counter. The robber also took money from the second employee, the report said.
He then shuffled the employees into a bathroom before leaving through the back door, fleeing northbound in the direction of Weslock Drive. Investigators found two $10 bills near the business and tire marks in the grass.
The victims, ages 33 and 19, described the robber as a white man between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-1, and about 300 pounds. He was wearing a yellow cloth ski mask and light blue jeans.
Tot swallows pill, woman is charged with neglect
NEW PORT RICHEY - A Tarpon Springs woman faces a charge of child neglect after failing to get medical attention for a 1-year-old girl who took a pill from the woman's purse, authorities said.
New Port Richey police arrested Gena R. Carpenter, 27, on Sunday at 5540 James St. No. 9. She was being held Monday at the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
A report said Carpenter illegally possessed the sedative Klonopin, and the girl was "acting intoxicated and not able to stand." But Carpenter did not call for help, police said.
Later, the girl's father noticed a problem and called for an ambulance. She was apparently okay. Police did not disclose the girl's relationship to Carpenter.
