New Port Richey Man Arrested After Confronting Victim While Wielding Hammer

A New Port Richey resident accused of swinging a hammer at a man in the street was arrested Thursday, July 16, after police discovered brass knuckles in his pocket and an illegaly altered handgun in his home.

William Berube III, 23, held a hammer as he approached the victim outside 6921 Julia Court, according to an arrest affidavit from the New Port Richey Police Department. The victim and a witness told police that he swung the hammer at the victim’s face

Berube, who lives at 6931 Julia Court, according to the affidavit, told New Port Richey police that he was holding the hammer but did not swing. He just wanted to scare them, he told police.

He was arrested, and a set of brass knuckles were found in a back pocket of his shorts. Police searched his home and found a handgun with the serial numbers filed off, according to the affidavit.

Berube told police the numbers were missing when he bought the gun.

He was booked into the Land O’ Lakes Jail Thursday and charged with aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon (brass knuckles) and an altered firearm-related offense. He was released Friday after making bail.