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09-06-2007, 04:42 AM
Crash Victim's Status Slipped Before Fight
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By STEPHEN THOMPSON The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 5, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - A hospital brawl broke out among members of the Graziano family after they received news that John Graziano's prognosis had worsened significantly, according to police reports released Tuesday.
Graziano, a 22-year-old Iraq veteran, has been in critical condition since Aug. 26, when he was injured while riding in a Toyota Supra wrecked by Nick Bollea, the 17-year-old son of famed wrestler Hulk Hogan.
At different turns, family members, friends and acquaintances have said he possibly suffered brain damage, was getting better or has been unresponsive since the wreck. He is said to be in a medically induced coma.
Also Tuesday, Bollea's attorney J. Kevin Hayslett entered a not guilty plea for Bollea on a speeding ticket Bollea received 16 days before the wreck. Speed has been cited as a factor in the wreck that injured Graziano.
At Bayfront Medical Center on Thursday, the family received "bad news" concerning Graziano's condition, according to a St. Petersburg police report. His 19-year-old brother, Michael, "took it really hard," Graziano's sister, Christin Carson, 24, told an officer.
"Christin stated that Michael was crying for hours and developed a headache," the report states. "According to Christin, Michael finally fell asleep on the floor."
Later, Edward Graziano, the young men's father, entered the room where the family had congregated and loudly ordered Michael Graziano to fix his computer, the report states. Carson said she told her father to lower his voice.
Edward Graziano responded by yelling, "You guys never respect me," the report states. After a few more words were exchanged, Edward Graziano walked out, making a crude gesture on the way, but returned 45 minutes later and again told Michael Graziano to get up, the report states.
At that point, Carson's husband, Richard, and Edward Graziano exchanged words, and Michael got up, Carson told police. Michael Graziano told his father to leave. Carson also told him to leave and started pushing him out the door as Michael Graziano began yelling at him, the police report states.
Soon Carson's husband and Michael Graziano were trying to pull Edward Graziano off his daughter, the report states. Edward Graziano then went to a conference table, took a cold cup of coffee and threw it at Michael Graziano's face, the report states. Then the three of them - Carson, Carson's husband and Michael Graziano - put Edward Graziano out of the room and locked the door.
Neither Michael Graziano nor Carson wanted their father prosecuted.
On Friday, Edward Graziano returned to the hospital, but by then his wife, Debra, had renewed a restraining order against him, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said. He was arrested on a charge of violating the order because he went into a waiting room where she was, in violation of the injunction, police said.
Graziano was held Tuesday without bail at the Pinellas County Jail. In addition to violating the domestic injunction, he faces previous charges of tampering with a state witness and battery on a law enforcement officer.
Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 823-3303 or sthompson@tampatrib.com.
Skip directly to the full story.
By STEPHEN THOMPSON The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 5, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - A hospital brawl broke out among members of the Graziano family after they received news that John Graziano's prognosis had worsened significantly, according to police reports released Tuesday.
Graziano, a 22-year-old Iraq veteran, has been in critical condition since Aug. 26, when he was injured while riding in a Toyota Supra wrecked by Nick Bollea, the 17-year-old son of famed wrestler Hulk Hogan.
At different turns, family members, friends and acquaintances have said he possibly suffered brain damage, was getting better or has been unresponsive since the wreck. He is said to be in a medically induced coma.
Also Tuesday, Bollea's attorney J. Kevin Hayslett entered a not guilty plea for Bollea on a speeding ticket Bollea received 16 days before the wreck. Speed has been cited as a factor in the wreck that injured Graziano.
At Bayfront Medical Center on Thursday, the family received "bad news" concerning Graziano's condition, according to a St. Petersburg police report. His 19-year-old brother, Michael, "took it really hard," Graziano's sister, Christin Carson, 24, told an officer.
"Christin stated that Michael was crying for hours and developed a headache," the report states. "According to Christin, Michael finally fell asleep on the floor."
Later, Edward Graziano, the young men's father, entered the room where the family had congregated and loudly ordered Michael Graziano to fix his computer, the report states. Carson said she told her father to lower his voice.
Edward Graziano responded by yelling, "You guys never respect me," the report states. After a few more words were exchanged, Edward Graziano walked out, making a crude gesture on the way, but returned 45 minutes later and again told Michael Graziano to get up, the report states.
At that point, Carson's husband, Richard, and Edward Graziano exchanged words, and Michael got up, Carson told police. Michael Graziano told his father to leave. Carson also told him to leave and started pushing him out the door as Michael Graziano began yelling at him, the police report states.
Soon Carson's husband and Michael Graziano were trying to pull Edward Graziano off his daughter, the report states. Edward Graziano then went to a conference table, took a cold cup of coffee and threw it at Michael Graziano's face, the report states. Then the three of them - Carson, Carson's husband and Michael Graziano - put Edward Graziano out of the room and locked the door.
Neither Michael Graziano nor Carson wanted their father prosecuted.
On Friday, Edward Graziano returned to the hospital, but by then his wife, Debra, had renewed a restraining order against him, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said. He was arrested on a charge of violating the order because he went into a waiting room where she was, in violation of the injunction, police said.
Graziano was held Tuesday without bail at the Pinellas County Jail. In addition to violating the domestic injunction, he faces previous charges of tampering with a state witness and battery on a law enforcement officer.
Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 823-3303 or sthompson@tampatrib.com.