A St. Petersburg man has been arrested for punching and knocking out a 13-year-old girl, officials said.
Kolbe Wayne Smith was at a Race Trac gas station at 2551 54th Ave. N. in unincorporated St. Petersburg when he punched the child, causing her to lose consciousness, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. She fell to the ground.
The incident occurred about 3 p.m. Saturday.
In a sheriff's report, Pinellas sheriff's detectives said Smith did not know the 13-year-old victim, whose name was not released.
He walked to the Race Trac gas station and struck the female victim unprovoked in the face.
The child's parent was outside of the gas station, pumping gas at the time of the attack.
Several people prevented Smith from leaving the store.
Smith struggled with deputies when they tried to take him into custody. During the confrontation, deputies tazed Smith to get him to comply.
Arresting deputies believed Smith was under the influence of an unknown substance, the sheriff's report said.
The 13-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene and released to her parents, who refused further medical treatment, the report said.
Smith also received medical attention for a small cut on his head and left ear when he struck his head on the tile floor. He was treated at a local hospital then taken to the Pinellas County jail for booking.
The report said Smith admitted to taking LSD.
Smith was charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, violation of probation felony and resisting arrest without violence.
The investigation continues.
