HOLIDAY - Exactly who started a predawn fight between a teenager and several adults at Anclote Gulf Park early Sunday remains in dispute.
But by the time the sun rose on Sunday, Pasco County sheriff's deputies said 16-year-old Shaun Jai Mercado of 4630 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey was in jail on charges of aggravated battery and auto burglary. And 29-year-old Misty Lynn Ford was in the hospital with a gash on her face.
According to an arrest report, Mercado and Ford exchanged words about 3:43 a.m. in the parking lot of Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Bailies Bluff Road. Several of Mercado's friends say Ford got in his "face" and pushed him. The adults told deputies Mercado called Ford "fat" and attacked the New Port Richey woman when she didn't back down.
Deputies charged Mercado with hitting Ford on the back and the face with a black billy club. She suffered a gash on the left side of her face and was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Deputies said Mercado was hit by a car as several bystanders tried to drive Ford out of the park. He suffered scrapes and bruises.
Mercado also is charged with smashing several windows in the car as it sped off. He was taken to the Pasco County Juvenile Assessment Facility.
Rick Buckman, Pasco County parks and recreation director, said the fishing pier portion of the park is open 24 hours.
"We get some vandalism now and then," he said. "Rarely do we have people versus people incidents."
Deputies say 79-year-old attacked by her daughter
HOLIDAY - A 52-year-old Holiday woman was arrested Sunday night on charges she choked her 79-year-old mother.
Brenda Rose Stringfellow, 52, of 3330 Clydesdale Drive was charged with battery on a person 65 years or older. She was being held without bail on Monday.
According to a Pasco sheriff's arrest report, Stringfellow was arguing with her mother, Rose Bryant Mooneyham, at their home about 9:20 p.m. Sunday. The report said Stringfellow became enraged and began choking her mother, then grabbed her arms and pushed her against a wall. Deputies said Mooneyham's injuries were minor.
