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2 charged in attack on man outside Pinellas Park bar

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2009

Thomas Highfield

Richard Pinnell

PINELLAS PARK - Two men were arrested over the weekend in an attack on a 60-year-old man, who was struck in the head with a tire jack, Pinellas Park police say.

Thomas Highfield, 38, of Kenneth City, was charged with attempted murder, according to Pinellas County Jail records. Richard Pinnell, 34, of St. Petersburg, was charged with aggravated assault, the records show.

The victim, Glenn Whitaker, got into a confrontation with Highfield and Pinnell in the parking lot outside Carlie's Bar, 7020 49th St. N., as the bar was closing at 2 a.m. Saturday, Capt. Sanfield Forseth of the Pinellas Park Police Department said.

Whitaker saw the pair arguing with a woman and told them to leave her alone, Forseth said, and they in turn confronted Whitaker.

When Whitaker saw that Pinnell was armed with a stick, and was swinging it at Whitaker and others, Whitaker told him to put the weapon down, Forseth said. While Whitaker was trying to make Pinnell disarm himself, Highfield struck Whitaker several times in the head with the tire jack, Forseth said.

A police officer arrived and saw several gashes to Whitaker's head, and the victim was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Forseth said. Whitaker, who was intoxicated during the incident, was expected to survive his injuries, police said.

Highfield denied hitting anyone, Forseth said, and refused to discuss the incident further with police.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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