MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY

A VENICE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY HIT ANOTHER WITH A CLUB.  SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY THE VICTIM RECEIVED A CALL FROM 20 YEAR OLD RYAN CLARKE OF VENICE SAYING HE WANTED THE VICTIM TO COME OUT OF HIS HOUSE AND TALK TO HIM.  WHEN THE VICTIM CAME OUT, CLARKE GOT OUT OF HIS PICKUP AND WENT AFTER THE VICTIM WITH A CLUB, HITTING HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND CAUSING A LACERATION.  ANOTHER MAN THEN GOT OUT OF THE PICKUP AND CHASED THE VICTIM AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE.  THE VICTIM SAID IT WAS A GLANCING BLOW AND HE WAS NOT INJURED.  CLARKE AND THE OTHER MAN THEN FLED IN THE PICKUP.  THE VICTIM SAID HE WAS ATTACKED BECAUSE THE DAY BEFORE THEY ALL MET A GIRL WHO EVENTUALLY KICKED CLARKE AND THE OTHER MAN OUT SO SHE COULD BE WITH THE VICTIM.  CLARKE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.  HE IS BEING HELD ON $50,000 BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL.