Bar fight leads to attempted murder charge

A St. Patrick’s Day bar fight nearly turned deadly for a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

Deputies were patrolling Gulf Gate Village overnight because of the large St. Patrick’s Day bar crowds.

A fight broke out at the Boar’s Head Bar around 2 a.m. this morning. The deputies arrived and saw bar employees trying to kick out Nicholas Richetti, 29, because he attacked another customer.

While he was being escorted, Richetti shoved someone to the ground for no apparent reason.

Deputies then began to lead Richetti outside, and that’s when 23-year-old Neil Richetti came up from behind Deputy Troy Sasse and got him in a choke hold.

It appeared to the other deputies that Sasse could not breathe, and Neil Richetti dragged Sasse to the ground. Before Sasse lost consciousness, another deputy punched and Tasered Neil Richetti. Nicholas Richetti then joined the fight.

Four deputies and the two Richettis were throwing punches on the ground for several minutes. More Taser fire followed. Finally, both suspects were brought under control. Neil Richetti was charged with attempted murder for his attack on Sasse. Nicholas Richetti was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Two of their friends were arrested for obstruction, because they would not stop demanding to know what had happened and yelled obscenities at the deputies.

None of the deputies and neither of the Richettis were seriously hurt.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].