Man hurt in fight between neighbors

By CARY DAVIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- A Zephyrhills man suffered serious injuries during a Wednesday afternoon fight involving at least four people, the Zephyrhills Police Department said.

The fight broke out in front of 38027 Old Fifth Ave., across from Zephyr Park, about 4:30 p.m., police said. It ended on the porch of the house, where paramedics arrived to find Loy Lee Hardwick, 44, bleeding from the head.

Police said Hardwick was beaten in the face with a pipe. He suffered head trauma and possibly a broken jaw, said Zephyrhills Fire Chief Robert Hartwig.

Hardwick was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. His condition was not available Wednesday night, but he was expected to survive, Hartwig said.

Police said Hardwick was involved in the fight.

When police got to the house, they found a tense situation. Tempers flared as about a dozen people argued over what had taken place.

Police said there has been a long-running dispute among residents in the neighborhood. The nature of the dispute wasn't clear, and police said they weren't sure what instigated Wednesday's fight.

"It's an ongoing situation," said police Sgt. Randy Grimm.

Police on Wednesday night were searching for two men who fled the scene after the fight. Police said one or both of the men beat Hardwick. But police were not calling the men suspects because they had not determined exactly what happened.

"At this time, it's just a fight," Grimm said. "We'll know more after we talk to all the witnesses."

Police interviewed a fourth man who they said took part in the fray and tried to defend Hardwick. The man was not arrested.

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