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Ybor City Club Manager Jailed After Brawl

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 29, 2008

TAMPA - A manager of the Ybor City night spot Club Prana was arrested early Sunday in St. Petersburg and charged with attempted murder.

The manager, Jeffrey Lew, was involved in a confrontation with Emmanuel "Manny" Bellevue and Charley Fields at 3:30 a.m. Saturday near the club, a police report states. He later was arrested on a warrant in Pinellas County.

Police say an argument turned physical, and Lew shot Bellevue, injuring him slightly.

According to the police report:

Bellevue told police he and Fields were walking to Fields' car when they saw Lew. He said they confronted Lew, saying Fields had worked at the club that night and hadn't gotten paid.

Bellevue told police that Lew hit him in the throat, pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. Bellevue said Lew struck him in the throat again, they tussled, and Lew pointed the gun at his head and shot him.

Lew told police that when he initially saw Bellevue and Fields, he was nervous because he had fired Fields for not working and kicked him out of the club. He said Bellevue demanded money for Fields.

Then Lew saw something in Bellevue's hand, and he believed he was being robbed, Lew told police. Bellevue pushed him in the chest, and Lew reached in his car and pulled out a gun, he said.

Bellevue started fighting with him, Lew said, and the gun was knocked free. They both ran for the gun, and Lew got to it first and ordered Bellevue to get back, he said. Lew said he and Bellevue were pushing each other and that Bellevue grabbed at the money in his hand and the gun went off in the air.

Lew said Bellevue was trying to take off his grandfather's ring, as well as his Rolex watch, and that Bellevue also wanted cash.

"He denied shooting Manny and said the bullet went up in the air and did not hit Manny," the report states. "He said any injury should be from him hitting Manny in the head with the butt of the gun during their struggle."

Lew was booked into the Pinellas County Jail at 12:50 a.m. Sunday.

No bail was set, according to jail records.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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