Pinellas County deputies arrested a Seffner man early Monday morning after he allegedly critically injured his girlfriend at a strip club.
- Seffner man arrested after critically injuring girlfriend at club
- Kara Thobe, 35, is in critical condition
Sonny Mendoza, 32 was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated battery after slamming 35-year-old Kara Thobe's head into the ground at OZ Gentleman’s Club in Clearwater, deputies say.
Detectives said Mendoza got into a physical fight at the strip club with two unidentified men. The fight started after Mendoza, Thobe, two unidentified women and two unidentified men got into a verbal altercation.
At some point in the fight, surveillance video shows Mendoza throwing Thobe to the ground, where she hit her head. Mendoza then allegedly continued to slam Thobe’s head into the cement until club patrons restrained him, said deputies.
According to detectives, Mendoza said he thought he was fighting with one of the unidentified men.
First responders found Thobe unresponsive from head injuries when they arrived, who was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries. She is in critical condition.
Detectives said anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective James Upton at (727) 582-6321.