Man arrested in violent Upper Keys fight

 

A 29-year-old Key Largo man was arrested Thursday afternoon for hitting another man in the face with a golf club during a two-man brawl in the street.

 

Edward Michael Fuller was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of battery causing bodily harm.

 

Deputy Jose Hernandez and other Deputies were called to Hibiscus Lane in Key Largo about 12:12 p.m. regarding an armed person who left in a white Chevrolet pickup truck. Deputy Hernandez was then dispatched to Mile Marker 105 where U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stopped a truck matching the description Hibiscus Lane witnesses provided to 911 Communications Specialists. Deputy Hernandez and Sgt. James Hager went to Mile Marker 105 and spoke to the driver of the pickup truck, identified as Fuller.

 

Fuller stated he was driving south on U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 101 when 40-year-old Detrick Joe Whitehead (the victim in the case) also of Key Largo threw an object at his vehicle. Fuller said he turned around, found Whitehead at Hibiscus Lane and got out of his vehicle whereupon he and Whitehead engaged in fisticuffs in the street in view of multiple witnesses. Fuller stated Whitehead told him he was going to kill him, so Fuller retrieved a golf club from his vehicle out of fear and proceeded to hit Whitehead in the face with it whilst Whitehead was still on the ground. Fuller was then taken to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier as his eyes began swelling shut due to injuries he suffered during the fray.

 

Deputy Hernandez also went to Mariners Hospital where he spoke to Whitehead who was also being treated, including treatment for a deep cut to his head from the golf club. Whitehead told Deputy Hernandez he was walking down Kay Drive near Mile Marker 101 when Fuller drove up and yelled profanities at him. Whitehead stated he kept walking and reached Hibiscus Lane whereupon he was almost struck by Fuller’s pickup truck. Whitehouse stated Fuller got out of the truck and a fistfight ensued in the street between both men. Whitehead stated Fuller struck him in the face at some point with a golf club and also retrieved a knife, but onlookers intervened at some point after Fuller produced a knife, forcing him to drive away shortly thereafter.

 

Deputies Dyllon Hansen and Javier Diaz spoke to witnesses at Hibiscus Lane. One stated that Fuller struck Whitehead so hard with the golf club, the golf club broke. That witness and two others also stated Fuller produced a knife at some point during the clash.

 

Fuller was medically cleared at the hospital.

 

Fuller was then taken to jail.

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