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2 men attack hunter in forest

By Times Staff writer
Published February 20, 2007

LACOOCHEE - Two men attacked a Pasco hunter early Sunday, in a bizarre deep-woods crime that left the 66-year-old battered and bloody.

The two men pounded Philip Tracy with a rifle, then sped away in the Spring Hill man's 2003 Toyota truck.

Tracy suffered cuts and bruises on his head and face in the attack, which happened near the intersection of Megs Hole and Lacoochee Claysink.

Pasco deputies say Tracy and David Taylor, 24, were hunting raccoons when a man - later identified as Salvador Sanchez Castillo, 41 - approached them and asked for help with a flat tire.

Tracy and Taylor, driving separate vehicles, headed to the marooned car and found it flipped over. Tracy got out to look at the car.

At that moment, Taylor and Castillo heard voices nearby. Thinking someone needed help, the two drove off, leaving Tracy in his truck.

Tracy told deputies he was dialing 911 on his cell phone when two men walked up, dragged him out and began smashing him with a rifle.

Tracy had a rifle in the truck, but didn't know if the attackers beat him with his own gun.

Then the men took off, taking Tracy's truck and his gun.

Taylor and Castillo, meanwhile, had pulled up again. Seeing what happened, Taylor started to chase the robbers.

He stopped when one of the men pointed a rifle at him and Castillo.

Taylor and Castillo returned to where Tracy was, picked him up and drove out of the woods to get help.

Despite his injuries, Tracy decided he didn't need treatment from paramedics.

Pasco deputies said his stolen Toyota was recovered later near Trilby Road.

[Last modified February 20, 2007, 08:58:00]