PANAMA CITY BEACH — Police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a brass-knuckle beating that left another man with a broken jaw.
Beau Joseph MacGregor, 19, has a history as a young scrapper.
During one of the first encounters recorded between police and MacGregor, of Panama City Beach, he was arrested after allegedly attempting to fight passing cars on Thomas Drive. The charges were deferred in exchange for MacGregor’s cooperation in abstaining from the brawler’s lifestyle. However, he was arrested Monday on charges of beating an 18-year-old Lynn Haven man with brass knuckles, according to court documents.
Harvey Pitts told officers he went to buy marijuana at 8752 North Lagoon Drive on Nov. 21. Although the provocation of the incident was not clear from police reports, MacGregor — whose address was listed about five minutes away — approached Pitts as he was leaving and punched him with brass knuckles, arresting officers reported.
Attempts to contact Pitts for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.
MacGregor continued to punch Pitts, taking him to the ground as bystanders filmed the incident as evidence and attempted to stop the attack, Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported. Pitts was finally able to leave but later discovered he had a broken jaw. The incident would later cost him his job and thousands of dollars for a surgery to repair the damage, the officer wrote.
Months earlier, prosecutors agreed to defer prosecution of MacGregor for 12 months after a string of violent incidents at about midnight April 13.
When deputies initially arrested MacGregor, they reported he was walking along Thomas Drive without a shirt on, swinging at passing cars. When the officer pulled up, MacGregor said he liked to fight people, BCSO reported. Moments earlier, police were called to 5004 Thomas Drive, where another fight had taken place.
Deputies were told MacGregor hit a victim several times in the face before the victim wrapped his arms around MacGregor to restrain him. MacGregor then attempted to throw the victim off the fourth-floor balcony, while saying, “I’m gonna kill you,” according to BCSO reports.
Those charges of disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and battery were deferred under a caveat that MacGregor comply with the attorneys’ agreement, including not breaking any other laws.
“If you violate any of the above conditions, you may be prosecuted for the above offenses,” prosecutors wrote.
However, MacGregor was charged with aggravated battery Monday after BCSO served him with an arrest warrant.