Street Fight Rings In The New Year

The new year began in Hernando County with a street fight that resulted in a broken nose for the suspect and the victim's mother nursing a bump to the head.

At seven minutes past midnight a deputy was sent to 4324 Riviera Court to investigate a fight. He first met with the victim, John Guarneri Jr., who told them his friend, Ronnie Shrake, 23, had come over shortly before midnight.

Guarneri was trying to set up fireworks in the street in time for the ball drop, but Shrake, who was intoxicated and drinking schnapps, continued to pester him, a report states.

After being told several times to go away, Shrake kicked over the fireworks and punched Guarneri in the head four times, according to a report.

Guarneri hopped up and began fighting back so several onlookers intervened to break it up, a report shows. As the witnesses restrained Guarneri, the suspect grabbed Guarneri's mother by the hair, pushed her to the ground and punched her, a report shows.

Guarneri broke free and began fighting again until Shrake's fiancee grabbed him and they drove off together, a report states.

Deputy Jeffery Lamondra took statements from the victim and witnesses, but had to wait until later in the day to speak with Shrake because he was being treated for severe intoxication at Oak Hill Hospital, a report states.

When the deputy spoke with Shrake at his home, 1295 Pilgrim Road, all he could remember was seeing some fireworks go off and getting kicked in the head. Doctors told him that his nose was broken and it would probably take reconstructive surgery to correct it.

Shrake was charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.