CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Clearwater man was beaten to death by his neighbor following an ongoing dispute, police said.
Clearwater Police responded to a battery call around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in the 2500 block of Nursery Road. The caller reported a man punching and kicking another man.
When police arrived, they saw Luis Ramos-Flores, 57, holding down, Johnny Sauls, 57.
A Clearwater Police Officer handcuffed Ramos-Flores and paramedics were called to the scene. Sauls was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said the victim later died.
Friends said the victim went by "Jerome" and he was a Pastor at Community of Christ, a small church in New Port Richey.
"He didn’t want any conflict with anybody. Jerome was a blessed soul. He shared that on a daily basis with some and on a weekly basis through the church," said Steven Brown, church volunteer.
Detectives developed probable cause for the arrest of Ramos-Flores and he was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Police say that Ramos-Flores and Sauls had an on-going neighbor dispute, but did not provide any additional information.
Neighbors said the two would argue over lawn clippings near the victim's car.
"When he cuts the grass, let him know so he can move the car so the grass wouldn't go on the car. The guy that beat him up started yelling at him, cursing at him and calling him all kinds of names," said Michael Morrissey, a neighbor.
Ramos-Flores has been charged with second-degree murder. The investigation continues.
