TAMPA — As people kicked Alexander Fernandez, swiped his wallet and whacked him in the back of the head with a bat, a digital videocamera rolled.
Days after the March 31 beating outside a Lutz bar that left Fernandez bloodied and bruised, the man behind the camera returned to the scene of the crime and distributed copies of his work. Earlier this month, he posted it on YouTube.
It was that nearly 41/2-minute clip, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Thursday, that led to the arrest of William Bogan and four others on Wednesday.
Officials gave this account of the incident: About 1:39 a.m. March 31, Fernandez, 21, was hit in the face while inside the L.A. Hangout Bar on N Florida Avenue. He went outside, got a bat from his vehicle and returned to the front parking lot to confront the attacker.
Bogan, 25, took out his camera and started filming. He told an unknown man to hit Fernandez. Someone tackled him from behind and Fernandez landed on the pavement. Another person kicked him in the head while he was on the ground. One man grabbed the bat from Fernandez's hand while someone else removed his wallet. Then someone swung the bat against his head.
Fernandez was treated at University Community Hospital in Carrollwood. He was not at his Carrollwood home Thursday.
Bogan of Thonotosassa was charged with solicitation to commit robbery. He has been released from jail. Four others were arrested on unrelated marijuana charges stemming from a search warrant served at Bogan's home.
Carter said deputies are still looking for the two people who stole Fernandez's wallet, and ask anyone with information to call (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-873-8477.
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