MULBERRY, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff's Office said they arrested four teens for allegedly brutally beating up a 35-year-old Mulberry man on May 5.
PCSO said the attack was reported by the victim's wife around 11:40 p.m. on Monday, May 5. Authorities said the victim was initially uncooperative with the investigation.
Watch full report from Rebecca Petit
On May 8, Juan Carlos Ramos Sr. told deputies he was talking to a man at a Mulberry car wash trying to give him tips on how to wash his car.
He was later confronted by four teens and beaten.
“They were yelling, I can't tell what they were yelling but when you get hit in the head all you hear is ringing,” said Ramos.
Ramos said when he woke up, he walked back home. His wife opened the door in shock.
"To see his eyes swollen shut and just blood all over. I still have blood in our bathroom on the floor. I still have his bloody jeans on the floor and his bloody shoes. I haven’t even been able to process,” said Rachel Anne Ramos.
Ramos remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit with serious injuries to his face, including a broken nose, broken jaw, multiple cuts, and swelling.
“My whole jaw, my teeth, my eyes, a bunch of bruises all over my body,” he said.
During the investigation, detectives said they identified a witness, four suspects, and a cell phone video that showed the beating.
According to PCSO, the suspects told detectives they confronted the victim for bothering an autistic friend and were being protective of him. Investigators are still working to identify the autistic friend and another male who was with them at that time. Officials said the two other males were not involved in the attack.
PCSO arrested a 17-year-old boy, 18-year-old Eathan Ryne Simmons, 18-year-old Westlee Austin Davis II, and 19-year-old Dalton Ivory Creach on May 8 in connection to the attack.
“They were stomping him in the groin and the shoulder. In the neck and the torso. It is disgusting. It is sickening,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Three of the suspects were charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery with bodily harm. Davis II and the 17-year-old suspect were also charged with rioting. All three adults were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Investigators are still determining whether or not this was a hate crime.
The father of seven feels blessed to have survived the attack but has a long road to recovery.
“I want to see them prosecuted completely. I want them to understand that this is not okay,” said Rachel Anne Ramos.
“It's a little nerve-wracking.”
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