Deputies: Man who recorded bar beating, posted it to YouTube, arrested

TAMPA - A man who recorded video of a beating and robbery in the parking lot of a Lutz bar and then posted it on YouTube has been arrested. The video has since been removed from YouTube.

Hillsborough County Sheriff officials say William T. Bogan, 26, used a digital video camera as he told people to beat up Alexander R. Fernandez, 21, of Carrollwood and take his wallet during an altercation in the parking lot of the L.A. Hangout Bar, 16411 N Florida Ave., Lutz.

Bogan, of Thonotosassa, was arrested and charged with solicitation to commit strong armed robbery in connection with his role in the March incident.

Here is what deputies say happened:

At 1:39 a.m. March 31, Fernandez was hit in the face while inside the bar. Fernandez went outside to get a bat from his vehicle.

Bogan took out his digital video camera and started recording.

Fernandez returned to the front parking lot to confront whoever hit him.

That is when Bogan told someone to hit Fernandez. Fernandez then was tackled from behind and landed on the pavement. He was kicked in the head while he was on the ground incapacitated. One man removed the bat from Fernandez's hand while someone else removed his wallet. Then Fernandez was struck in the head with the bat.

Fernandez (left, from video) was taken to University Community Hospital Carrollwood.

Several days after the incident, Bogan returned to the bar with copies of the video. He handed them out and posted the video on YouTube.

Deputies went to Bogan's house with a search warrant Wednesday and arrested four other men on marijauana charges:

Owen Reid, 22, of Thonotosassa, was seen narrating at the beginning of the video. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of controlled substance.

Perry Quinn Paremore, 16, of Thonotosassa, was seen near the end of the video. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.

Whitney Bogan, 21, of Thonotosassa, is the brother of William Bogan. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.

Fedell Jackson, 22, of Tampa, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.

"I'm so thankful that they nailed some of these guys," said Allen Fernandez, the victim's father.

The family's attorney, Philip Slotnick, could not be reached for comment.

Sheriff's deputies ask anyone with information about the two people who stole Fernandez's wallet to call (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

Jared Leone and Rodney Thrash, Times staff writers

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Comments

[Rob]

And the St. Petersburg Times has NO ETHICS by putting the video on its Web site. SENSATIONALISM at its best!

As for the crowd at the bar and in the parking lot, that's called the Lowest Common Denominator. Pure garbage in that bar!

[esnoke23]

I hope these disgusting men get what they deserve for beating a guy and stealing his wallet...come on that is just lame of them to do that.

[Abby]

Please do not promote this type of trash, by placing vulgar YouTube videos on your website.

[rimideka]

Hopefully Bogan and his thuggies were not offered bail and ordered to pay all of the medical costs. The times needs to finish the story.

[Mr. Ed]

Funny how these thugs are always toughest once the guy is knocked out and lying on the ground unable to defend themselves. Big tough guys sucker-punching someone, then kicking and hitting him once he’s out cold… then stealing his money.

Freaking panzies!

[MOM x 2]

What a bunch of jerks!! Losers!

[hissycrissy]

uuumm i agree with rob and Abby.

lets do a story about how wrong it ts to post a violent beating. Hey great idea! lets put the video up so more people can see it and we can further humiliate this victim. Chyyaa.

Dumb asses

[Educated94]

What a bunch of girls. They can't man up to the guy face to face, so they sucker puch the guy...twice. Is is like a pack of wild animals. Then the girls take his wallet, probably coping a fell while they were at it. Boy, I am sure the Bogan's parents are proud. Oh, I forgot, they probably are lucky to even know who one of their parents are.

[Educated94]

I am hoping they will be charged with a hate crime as well. He is constantly referred to as the "white boy" thoughout the video. It is also in the title of the video. Imagine if a white guy posted a video of a bunch of white guys beating up a black guy and kept calling him "balck boy" throughout the video or something like that. You would have the Uhuru's and Sharpton marching in the streets.

[damage98]

This was premeditated. Why else do you bring a video camera to a bar?

The thugs planned on singling some drunk bozo out and posting the video. they're barely literate but they know how to use youtube.

They distracted the bar security and orchestrated the whole thing. It's too bad they don't have that much energy for education and civic responsibility.

Close LA hangout. it's a pit. Drugs abound. They didn't call HCSO until after the guy was whacked because if they call too often then they'll get closed anyway. Thursday night the biker twinks drag race up n down Florida. Drunk drivers weave out of the place every evening. the afternoon barflies finish up their pack o smokes and 6 or 7 whiskey backs by 7 or so and wobble to their dodge pickups, and then the next wave of drunks leaves anytime between 11 and closing. How about a roadblock and breathalyzers every nite for a week? The place would be out of business. Sorry for the staff, but you can always go back to school or go work in a bar where people can walk home!

[Sim]

Wow, tough guys sucker punch a kid 2x from behindand then hit him with a bat while he is laying on the ground barely conscious. Its a wonder why we have so many black and hispanics in jail these days. Are there no fathers? no real men in these communities?

[hogholler]

Animal Instinct the packing thing. They think their in LA wish they were all there, every DOG has their day. Nice people hang out there birds of feather gather together. If you think it was wrong to post that video? It`s reality sad reality, got the apes caught.

[Psych Guru]

Maybe you guys should read the story again?

Obviously he was holding the camera... NOT beating up the kid. And if you can do that simultaneously then consider yourself God.

There are always two sides to a story, just remember that.

[boom]

Hi again folks this is Bob Barker reminding you to have your pets spayed or neutered

[Big C]

Strong arm robbery, assault and battery, attempted murder... premeditated. and you film yourself doing so.........what an idiot! The kid who got his butt kicked is also to blame, getting a bat, he should have left and called the police.

[The Man]

Unfortunately, blacks such as these are the reason that they are lagging as a race. Perhaps they should be out getting a job -- or even better, getting sterilized.

[TimfromIndiana]

The "victim" should have left once he was punched in the bar. To return with a baseball bat and have it taken away is stupid. He wasn't ready. Hopefully he learned his lesson. Get your butt kicked by hand, leave it alone. They could've pulled a gun on him...

[amiabledave]

Now if it was the opposite race getting the beating, there would be riots in the streets and torching of property. Fernandez was lucky. He could have been killed. Next time don't get a bat, call the police. Better yet, get the hell out of there.

[ali babba carraba]

ok i have been to this bar once before it is in the middle of "nowhere" so it is a very local bar. ok now my opinion, I feel the man with the bat should have called the police,after being hit. Of course he is drunk and being tough and did not call the police.

A BAT IS A DEADLY WEAPON!!!!

Mr Bogan (camera man) is arrested for telling a man to hit him, in fact he may have saved a life by this instruction. the DEADLY BAT could have caused death. this is a witch hunt, they arrested an innocent man! Please show me where he committed a crime???

[ali babba carraba]

ok i have been to this bar once before it is in the middle of "nowhere" so it is a very local bar. ok now my opinion, I feel the man with the bat should have called the police,after being hit. Of course he is drunk and being tough and did not call the police.

A BAT IS A DEADLY WEAPON!!!!

Mr Bogan (camera man) is arrested for telling a man to hit him, in fact he may have saved a life by this instruction. the DEADLY BAT could have caused death. this is a witch hunt, they arrested an innocent man! Please show me where he committed a crime???