THREE ARRESTED IN MARCH BEATING

THREE PORT CHARLOTTE MEN WERE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A MARCH BEATING OF A MAN IN A HOME THERE.  DEPUTIES SAY 30 YEAR OLD ZACHARY PETERSEN LURED THE VICTIM TO HIS OLEAN BOULEVARD HOME ON MARCH 13^TH.  WHEN THE VICTIM ARRIVED, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE, BUT MOMENTS LATER 30 YEAR OLD WILLIAM HOSTE AND 31 YEAR OLD EDWIN WILLIAMS SHOWED UP WEARING MASKS, GLOVES, AND DARK CLOTHING THROUGH A SIDE DOOR THAT PETERSEN UNLOCKED.  HOSTE WAS ALLEGEDLY ARMED WITH A GUN WHILE WILLIAMS HAD A BASEBALL BAT.  HOSTE REPORTEDLY HELD THE VICTIM WHILE WILLIAMS HIT HIM IN THE FACE AND LEFT FOREARM WITH THE BAT.  HOSTE TOOK A CELL PHONE, $102 CASH AND A PACK OF CIGARETTES FROM HIS POCKETS.  THE VICTIM FREED HIMSELF AND RAN OUT THE FRONT DOOR YELLING FOR HELP AS WILLIAMS FOLLOWED HITTING HIM IN THE LEGS WITH THE BAT.  A NEIGHBOR DIALED 911 WHILE WILLIAMS RAN BACK AND SMASHED OUT A WINDOW IN THE VICTIM’S PICK-UP.  DETECTIVES CHARGED THE THREE WITH ARMED ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.  WILLIAMS ALSO HAD TWO OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR AND DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED OR REVOKED LICENSE.  ALL THREE REMAIN IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.