Holmes Beach police arrested Tampa resident Brian Vikingstad, 48, April 7 on four felony charges for allegedly breaking into his relatives’ island home and assaulting them.
Vikingstad was charged with two first-degree felonies for burglary with battery and aggravated battery involving a victim aged 65 years or older.
He also was charged with another first-degree felony for burglary with battery and third-degree felony for battery of a person aged 65 years or older.
Multiple officers responded around 10:45 p.m. to reports of a battery with serious injuries.
Two officers contacted the complainants at their property in the 6300 block of Flotilla Drive.
A man, who “had a substantial amount of blood” on his clothes, answered the door and allowed them to enter.
Inside, the officers found a woman lying on the floor of the living room, covered in blood and with several towels near her head soaked in blood.
An officer asked her if she could hear him and she said “yes,” but was otherwise unable to speak. He stayed there until West Manatee Fire Rescue paramedics and Manatee County emergency medical services arrived.
The woman was later transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton for emergency treatment.
The officers interviewed the male victim, who told police Vikingstad had entered their home uninvited around 9:45 p.m. through an unlocked front door and started an argument before battering the woman with his hands.
He said Vikingstad “beat her face to a pulp” over a period of 15 minutes, according to a report.
The man said he was physically unable to stop Vikingstad’s assault and was struck when he tried to intervene. He displayed bruises on his arm to police.
The male victim said Vikingstad needed psychological help but he wanted to press charges.
He also said Vikingstad threatened to kill them during the incident and had previously threatened to come to their home but had never done so before then.
Another two officers located Vikingstad, who had blood stains on his shorts, around 10:45 p.m. in the 6200 block of Flotilla Drive.
The officers detained him and searched the area for evidence.
The officers transported Vikingstad back to the Holmes Beach Police Department for processing.
There, Vikingstad refused to provide a statement or answer questions about the incident but did not remain silent.
An officer transported Vikingstad to the Manatee County jail, where he remained as of April 14 under $80,000 bond — $20,000 for each of the four charges.
If convicted, punishment for a first-degree felony charge includes up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to 5 years in prison and fine of up to $5,000.
Assistant public defender Layron Jaime Gaither April 12 filed a plea of not guilty on behalf of Vikingstad.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, May 19, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.