The father of a victim is asking the public for help to identify a man who hit his son with a bat in front of him after a confrontation.
The victim, 49 year-old Virlyn Watson, was hit in the head twice with a bat and was transported to Broward General Medical Center to receive treatment. Hospital officials say Virlyn remains in critical condition.
According to the police report, on Wednesday February 10th, Joseph Watson and his son, Virlyn, were traveling on the 2800 Block of NW 19 Street. He pulled his Chevy pick-up truck over on the side of the road after a tire on the truck's bed fell out. Virlyn was on the passenger seat when he got off of the truck to pick up the tire.
The suspect traveling on a small bike approached Joseph and Virlyn and told them to move their vehicle out of the way. Words were exchanged between the victim and suspect.
When Joseph began to drive away, the suspect threw a rock at his truck hitting the passenger side door leaving an indentation on the metal. Virlyn picked up a bat from the cab of the truck and threw it at the suspect. The suspect retaliated and struck Virlyn on the head with the bat twice.
The responding police officer spoke to Virlyn who said he did not want to press charges. The officer noticed bruising on the victim's head. Joseph insisted paramedics take his son to the hospital. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Virlyn has had two brain operations since the beating and is in critical condition.
The suspect was last seen running into a house in the 1800 Block of NW 28 Avenue. Police knocked on the door but got no answer. The suspect is described as a black male 18 to 22 years old about 5'3 and 135 pounds.
Local
Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact Detective Donald Gauntner at (954) 828-5527 or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
