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Seniors Spar Over Camera, Fence

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By LISA A. DAVIS ldavis@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 10, 2009

Larry Turner

PORT RICHEY - Evidently, 83-year-old John Anthony Humbach didn't like that his neighbor's security camera was facing his property, so he tried to install a wooden stockade fence to block it.

Then, about 10 a.m. Thursday, according to a sheriff's office report, Humbach's neighbor Larry Turner, 62, came out and started yelling and cursing at him for putting up the fence. Humbach told him he was within his rights to install a fence on his property.

Turner then started climbing over the fence in the rear corner of the yard, threatening Humbach, who punched him in the face because he thought Turner would hurt him, the sheriff's office said.

Turner continued over the fence, knocked Humbach to the ground and started punching his head and face, breaking the older man's glasses, the report stated.

Humbach's wife, Laurel, 75, was inside cleaning when she heard yelling and then saw Turner atop her husband, so she called 911.

Turner's wife, Nancy, 62, told deputies she saw Humbach punch her husband in the face, causing her husband to fall over the fence.

Larry Turner told deputies his neighbor "sucker-punched" him, causing him to fall over the fence.

Both men said they have had ongoing problems. Turner, according to the report, told deputies the camera Humbach was worried about is fake and he only put it up to "harass" him.

Turner was arrested on a charge of battery on a person older than 65, but after complaining of being "lightheaded" after not taking his insulin for diabetes, he was taken to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, where he was medically cleared before being booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail.

Turner, of 9015 Mark Twain Lane, was released from the jail later Thursday after posting $5,000 bail.

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