Two more men have been arrested over the alleged attack on a man with special needs at a bonfire in Florida’s Tiger Bay State Forest, bringing the number of people detained in connection with the incident to four.
Logan Levesque and Casey Knight were arrested on Wednesday and charged with aggravated abuse of a disabled adult, aggravated battery with bodily harm and battery by strangulation, according to Volusia County booking records. Both were being held without bail.
Cody Stripling and Sebastian Bowers were arrested over the weekend on the same charges, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Tiger Bay State Forest attack began at bonfire
The alleged assault took place on 23 October, when the victim attended a bonfire in the forest with a friend, according to an arrest report.
Investigators said the friend left for a time to take several people home and bring others back to the gathering. While waiting, the victim sat on the tailgate of a pick-up truck before Bowers and Stripling approached and began mocking him.
Mobile phone footage allegedly shows the victim being pulled from the vehicle before being spat on, slapped, punched and kicked by several men. The victim told investigators the attack lasted between 30 and 40 minutes, ending when his friend returned and intervened.
He was left with bruising to his arms, back and face, the report said.
The victim’s friend later told deputies that he had been informed the assault began after the man allegedly insulted and brushed against an unidentified person at the party.
The sheriff’s office has not said how many people attended the gathering or whether further arrests are expected. Detectives are seeking information from anyone who witnessed the incident, including the person who recorded the footage.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on 386-248-1777 or email Detective Meeks at LMeeks@volusiasheriff.gov.
