Crescent City man arrested after beating man to death at DeLand strip club

Late last night, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced that their detectives arrested a man on a charge of 2nd-degree murder in a fatal altercation with a DeLeon Springs, Florida, man Saturday night outside a strip club north of DeLand.

Jesus Torres, 43, of Crescent City, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Flagler County after detectives spent three days working to track him down.

The victim, 44-year-old Vicente Alejo Verdel, was pronounced dead at the scene at Dixie’s Gentlemen’s Club shortly after deputies arrived just after 8 p.m. Saturday. Dixie’s is located at 3705 N. U.S. 17 in DeLand.

Witnesses told detectives an altercation started inside the club, and then moved outside.

Surveillance video (not available at this time, according to the Sheriff’s Office) showed Torres knocking Alejo Verdel’s friend to the ground and punching him several times. Later, after another exchange of words, Torres turned his attention to Alejo Verdel, punching him several times, incapacitating him. Alejo Verdel fell to the ground, motionless, as Torres continued to punch him several more times.

The preliminary results of an autopsy indicated Alejo Verdel’s death was the result of blunt force trauma and his death was ruled as a homicide.

Detectives identified Torres through one of his associates that was also seen with him on video surveillance. A warrant for second-degree murder was issued on Sunday. Efforts to locate Torres had been ongoing, and he was subsequently arrested in Flagler County without incident, with the assistance of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Torres was transported to the Flagler County Jail, where he will be held without bond.

(Source: Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter