Collier man under arrest for beating elderly neighbor with a bat

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- A man is in jail, accused of beating his 75-year-old neighbor with a baseball bat.

It happened in the Sorrento Villas Community on Pompei Lane,  just off Goodlette Frank Road.

Deputies arrested 39-year-old Christopher East for allegedly beating his neighbor for sitting on a communal staircase.

“It’s quite surprising,” said their neighbor, Chuck Heinz.

In an arrest report, the 75-year-old told deputies he was trimming his nails on the stairs when East told him to move.

Minutes later, the victim said East hit him in the back with a baseball bat and starting beating him repeatedly.

When deputies arrived, they found the elderly man lying in a fetal position on the grass, bloodied and battered from head to toe. They rushed him to NCH North Naples Hospital and arrested East.

Heinz tells WINK News, East always seemed like a nice neighbor.

“He keeps to himself.  He’s not real outgoing. If you say hi, he’ll say hi, and he’ll just keep on going,” said Heinz.

Heinz also says East frequently helps the elderly lady who also lives next door.

“He bakes her cookies and all kinds of stuff,” said Heinz. “Just treats her really good.”

Making this situation even more bizarre.

“There’s never been anything like this in the five years I’ve had this place,” said Heinz.

East is facing charges of aggravated battery and theft. The victim told deputies East stole his manicure set while he was lying on the ground.