Original Blog Entry: Man arrested after posting strong-armed robbery on YouTube

truesee — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:51:46 GMT

Videotaped Lutz strong-armed robbery posted on YouTube

Image from YouTube

A video posted on YouTube shows a man being beaten and robbed outside a nightclub in Lutz

By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2009

William T. Bogan

TAMPA - A strong armed robbery in Lutz was captured on videotape and placed on YouTube.

Hillsborough County deputies have arrested the man they say shot the footage, and they are continuing to search for two people who removed the victim's wallet.

The attack occurred in the early morning hours of March 31 at L.A. Hangout Bar, 16411 N. Florida Ave. in Lutz.

Alexander R. Fernandez, 21, of Tampa, was struck in the face by an unknown person while inside the bar. Fernandez left the bar so he could get a bat from his vehicle. Deputies say William T. Bogan, 25, of Thonotosassa, was recording the events on a digital video camera and that Fernandez returned to the front parking lot looking for the person who struck him.

That's when Bogan told an unknown male to hit Fernandez, deputies say.

As seen on the video the victim was tackled from behind and landed on the pavement, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release states. An unknown individual kicked the victim in the head while he was incapacitated on the ground. Another subject removed the bat from the victim's hand.

Bogan told people to remove Fernandez's money, and two males took Fernandez's wallet.

Fernandez was struck in the head with a bat.

Fernandez was treated at University Community Hospital. He has since been released, but details on his condition weren't immediately available.

Days after the incident, Bogan returned to the L.A. Hangout Bar and distributed copies of the video, deputies say. The video was placed on YouTube by Bogan, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

We were investigating the incident and went to the bar and found out that copies had been distributed, she said.

Deputies got a search warrant and went to Bogan's home Wednesday. Inside, they found Bogan and several others: Owen Reid, Perry Quinn Paremore, Whitney Bogan and Fedell Jackson.

William Bogan was charged with solicitation to commit strong armed robbery. His bail was set at $2,000, and he has since been released from jail.

Reid, 22, of Thonotosassa, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. He was seen narrating in the beginning of video, but Carter said he won't face additional charges for being involved in the video.

Paremore, 25, of Thonotosassa, was charged with marijuana possession. He was seen in the video but also won't face charges for that, Carter said.

Whitney Bogan, 23, of Thonotosassa, was charged with marijuana possession. Bogan, who is William Bogan's brother, was released on his own recognizance.

Fedell Jackson, 24, of Tampa, was charged with marijuana possession. He was released on his own recognizance.

Deputies are seeking the public's help finding the two people who took Fernandez's wallet.

NOTE: YouTube has removed the videotape

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