Fla. cops: Former wrestler beat up kids

TAMPA, Fla., June 22 (UPI) -- Former professional wrestler and Hillsborough County, Fla., Commissioner Brian Blair has been arrested for allegedly beating up his sons, police say.

An arrest report filed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says officers responded to Blair's Forest Hills, Fla., home at 4 a.m. Sunday, after the one-time World Wrestling Federation star allegedly punched his 17-year-old son in the face and put him in a chokehold, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune reported.

Sheriff's deputies say Blair then attacked his younger son, said to be 12 years old, allegedly grabbing the boy by the throat and leaving a mark by punching him in the head.

Blair, listed as 6 feet, 235 pounds, was held Monday without bail pending a hearing before Judge Walter Heinrich, the newspaper said.

Blair, a conservative Republican who campaigned on "family values" themes, was defeated in his reelection bid last year by Kevin Beckner after a heated campaign. In March, Blair sued Beckner for allegedly accusing him of "self-dealing, taking action to harm women and children and supporting racism" during the campaign, the Tribune reported.