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Letter to the editor

Fight over bedding leaves man dead

By JACOB H. FRIES, Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Kevin Fear, 44, was arrested in murder of James Potter.

PINELLAS PARK -- It started with two homeless men fighting over some bedding in an abandoned building, police said.

It ended when Kevin Fear punched James Potter, knocking him to a concrete floor where he hit his head and later died, they said. Potter was 49.

Police caught up with Fear, 44, on Friday and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail on a second-degree murder charge. He was being held in lieu of $750,000 bail.

The fatal fight occurred on Aug. 1 or 2 when Fear, Potter and a third homeless man were drinking beer in a vacant office at 4075 Park Blvd, police said. Fear and Potter began arguing and Fear punched him in the side of the head.

Potter began bleeding from his nose and mouth, and the third homeless man, whom police did not identify, left the building. He came forward on Aug. 18 to provide police with the witness account that enabled them to arrest Fear.

Detectives found Fear on Friday walking along Fourth Street in St. Petersburg and took him into custody without incident.

Records show he has been arrested numerous times in Pinellas County on charges that include retail theft, disorderly conduct and aggravated assault.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 00:46:39]