HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -- A violent video that ultimately wound up on the Web site YouTube has led to the arrest of three people. Hillsborough deputies are looking for two others.
The video shows 22-year-old Alexander Fernandez of Tampa being beaten with a baseball bat and robbed.
According to a police report, Fernandez was hit in the face by an unknown person in the L.A. Hangout Bar in the early morning hours of March 31.
Fernandez then went to his car and returned carrying a baseball bat. A person was recording the events on a video camera.
Fernandez returned to the front parking lot looking for the person who hit him. The person taking the video told someone to hit Fernandez.
He was tackled from behind and landed face down on the pavement. Another person kicked Fernandez in the head while he was incapacitated on the ground.
Someone else then took the bat from Fernandez. The person recording the events then told other individuals to take the victim's money.
Two males are seen taking Fernandez's wallet and striking him in the head with the bat.
Fernandez was taken to University Community Hospital where he was treated for several days. His father says he has retained an attorney.
The person who took the video later returned to the bar and distributed copies. The video was also placed on YouTube.
On May 27, deputies went to the Thonotosassa home of William Bogen, who investigators say took the video. He was arrested and charged with solicitation to commit strong armed robbery and marijuana possession. two other people who were at the home were also charged with marijuana possession.
Deputies are now looking for the two men who took the victim's wallet.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.
WARNING: THE VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
The YouTube video can be viewed by clicking here.
