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Felonies Charged In Beating Of 3

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

BAYONET POINT - It started over a girl and ended with three young men in the hospital after being beaten with baseball bats, tire irons and brass knuckles, according to authorities.

A fourth man ended up behind bars Tuesday after Pasco County deputies tracked him down.

On Oct. 4, after a trio of men enjoyed a night out at a strip club, one of their cell phones rang as they were driving in a Taco Bell drive-through. The call came from Ben Bradshaw's former girlfriend's phone but it was a male voice on the other end of the line.

"I see you are in the orange car," the voice said.

It wasn't the first time the young men had spoken, according to sheriff's office reports. The caller was "Roger," the new boyfriend of Regina Levy, 18, and he wanted Bradshaw, 19, to leave his girl alone.

The current boyfriend, later discovered to be Roger Mumma, 18, asked Bradshaw if he wanted to fight.

"I'm bigger than you and if we were to fight I would beat you," Bradshaw told deputies he warned the caller.

A short time later Bradshaw, along with his brother Sam, 20, and friend Russell Stender, who was driving, drove into a parking lot at USA Flea Market at U.S. 19 and State Road 52. Several other vehicles pulled up as well, surrounding them, and then someone opened the back driver's side door and pulled out Sam Bradshaw and started striking him several times in the face by fists and a baseball bat and kicks, according to sheriff's office reports. More than a dozen people were in the area at the time and then some men pulled him to a water-filled ditch and pushed his head under water.

That's when Ben Bradshaw got out of the car to help his brother but was whacked in the face with brass knuckles and a baseball bat, reports state. Then he ran to his brother.

At some point, someone dragged Stender from his car and beat him with the brass knuckles. Stender's windshield and driver's side window also were smashed.

The trio drove to a nearby gas station and called for help. When deputies arrived, Stender and Ben Bradshaw were lying on the ground, bleeding.

The Bradshaw brothers were taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. Sam had injuries to his head, face and right hand; while Ben had scratches on his arm and facial bleeding. They were treated and released. Stender, 21, had serious injuries to his jaw, requiring surgery. He was flown by medical helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg and was released.

The three victims later identified Mumma, of 11395 Dauphin Ave. N., Largo from a photo pack of possible suspects.
Mumma told deputies he was upset Ben Bradshaw wouldn't leave his girlfriend alone.

He is facing three felony counts of aggravated battery. He's being held at Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $30,000.

The case is still under investigation, said sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin. Detectives are still seeking out participants in the beatings, he said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the tips line at 1-800-706-2488.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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