Conflicting witness reports have made it difficult to determine whether any charges will be filed in the early August incident.
By CHRIS TISCH
Published August 24, 2004
CLEARWATER - Police and prosecutors are investigating whether charges should be filed in connection with the death of a man injured in a bar fight earlier this month.
Arturo D. Brown, 30, of Largo was punched outside the Blue Chip Bar, 1104 Tangerine St., in the early morning hours of Aug. 7. Brown fell to the ground, hitting his head. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for treatment.
He died Aug. 17.
"That is believed to have led to his death ultimately, when he fell to the ground and hit his head," Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.
No one has been charged with his death, though detectives continue to investigate the incident, Shelor said.
Police did not release the names of other people involved in the fight, though Shelor said detectives know who they are.
Investigators have received conflicting accounts from witnesses as to who was the aggressor in the fight, said Bruce Bartlett, the chief assistant in State Attorney Bernie McCabe's office.
While friends of Brown say he was punched first, others say he threw the first punch.
If Brown was the aggressor, prosecutors probably will not be able to file charges in connection with his death. If the other person was the aggressor, it could result in a manslaughter charge, Bartlett said.
"How that plays out would have an effect on what we're going to do," he said.
According to his obituary, Brown was a lifelong resident of Pinellas County and worked as a plasterer.
