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Police Charge 2 Tampa Men In Attack On Ex-Roommates

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TBO.com

Published: September 29, 2008

TAMPA - Two Tampa men attacked one former roommate and forced their way into another former roommate's apartment and struck him with beer bottles Sunday night, Tampa police say.

Officers arrested 26-year-old Efrain Martinez-Hernandez and 23-year-old Emiliano Martinez-Hernandez.

The two men drank beer and waited for Joaquin Cruz, one of the former roommates, to come home at Arbour Ponds apartments, 2901 N. Dale Mabry Highway, police say. When he did, Efrain Martinez-Hernandez held down Cruz while Emiliano Martinez-Hernandez punched him in the face, an arrest affidavit states.

Later, the men saw another former roommate. That man, Hugo Cruz, tried running into his apartment. Efrain Martinez-Hernandez and Emiliano Martinez-Hernandez pushed their way inside, an arrest affidavit states.

They struck Cruz in the face with beer bottles, then dragged him outside and beat him up, according to the affidavit.

Efrain Martinez-Hernandez told police he wasn't involved. He had what officers say appeared to be blood on his pants, but he said it was paint.

Emiliano Martinez-Hernandez "changed his story several times," an arrest report states. He told officers that he was upset with Hugo Cruz over damages to his car. He said he and Efrain Martinez-Hernandez had been at the store together and that while they walked near Hugo Cruz's apartment, nothing happened. He later said he didn't hit Hugo Cruz and that he was the one who got hit in the face.

Inside Hugo Cruz's apartment, officers found two smashed beer bottles. Hugo Cruz had a bloody nose and face but said he didn't want an ambulance, the arrest report states.

Efrain Martinez-Hernandez and Emiliano Martinez-Hernandez were charged with armed burglary, aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery.

The report did not state whether the Martinez-Hernandezes or Cruzes were related.

They remained in Orient Road Jail today. Their bail hasn't been set.

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