ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg police say a 32-year-old man was yelling anti-LGBTQ comments before repeatedly punching a victim who tried to stop him.
Police said Bryant Chipman was walking around downtown St. Petersburg during the annual St. Pete Pride festival and "making aggressive anti-LGBTQ comments." When the victim tried to calm Chipman down, officers say Chipman attacked the victim.
According to an arrest report, police say Chipman picked up the victim and threw him on the ground. Chipman then got on top of the victim and "continued to punch the victim in the face," the arrest report said.
Police said the victim had extreme swelling on the right side of his face and possible skull injuries. Authorities said the victim was taken to the hospital.
Chipman was charged with felony battery and two counts of resisting an officer without violence.
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