Webster man punches brother, goes to hospital

WEBSTER –
A man was hospitalized for a broken nose Tuesday and later charged with misdemeanor battery for starting a fistfight with his brother, deputies said.

Patrick Puentes was in the process of moving to Tampa when he was confronted by his brother, David Puentes, outside his house at 8203 Chimney Rock Drive, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

In his arrest report, a deputy said he responded first to David Puentes’ house at 8177 Hardstone Drive and noticed he had a swollen nose.

David Puentes, 39, said he was attacked first by his brother and that a group of men held him while Patrick Puentes punched him in the face.

The deputy questioned Patrick Puentes, 37, who said his brother had sent obscene messages to him and his wife and then showed up at his house while he and his friends were moving furniture and boxes from his home, according to an arrest report.

Patrick said his brother punched him first and he fought back in self-defense, the report showed.

Witnesses at the scene confirmed the younger brother’s story, deputies said.

David Puentes was detained at 8 p.m. and transported to Brooksville Regional Hospital. After he was released, he was taken to the Hernando County Jail, according to the report.