Man accused of attacking 2 boys over 'bad language' during Wiffle ball game, authorities say

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A Katy-area man is facing charges after he attacked two boys during a Wiffle ball game, the Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Constable's Office said.

According to court documents, Robert Brajenovich told investigators he was frustrated by the teens' use of "bad language" during the April 30 game.

Tymothe Duret, 14, said he was playing with his 10-year-old brother and 14-year-old friend, Noah Barrios, on Birchwood Meadow Court when the suspect emerged from his home and confronted them about their language use.

"He was like, 'Who said shut the eff up? Who said shut the eff up?'" Duret said.

"We were like, 'Sir, nobody was cursing out here,' and then he was like, 'Really?' And, 'We're gonna fix this right now,'" Barrios said.

After that initial exchange, the victims say things quickly escalated.

"Then he comes up to me and he, like, pushed me and he took the bat," said Duret, who added that the shove caused his ankle to roll.

According to court documents, Brajenovich then pushed Barrios' e-bike, causing $500 in damage.

"I was about to go call my mom, and then he slapped the phone out of my hand," Barrios said.

Barrios said he was still able to make it home to alert his parents, while Duret says a quick-thinking neighbor intervened.

Duret's mother was filming as she and Barrios' parents confronted the man they identified as Brajenovich.

"Dealing with children," one woman can be heard saying. "What's wrong with you? Why don't you come to the parents?"

Brajenovich, who had no adult criminal history in Texas, is charged with two counts of injury to a child and one count of criminal mischief.

He was released from jail on a $31,000 bond but didn't answer his door on Tuesday or return a text message from Eyewitness News.

According to the criminal complaint, Brajenovich corroborated both victims' accounts.

"My question to him was why?" Barrios' father, Robert, said. "Why would you put - why would you think it's okay to put your hands on a child?"

Duret's mother, Gaelle, said Brajenovich's alleged conduct isn't completely out of character.

"Everybody has a story to share about this person," she said. "Everybody's scared of him. This is why nobody has been pressing charges until now."

As part of Brajenovich's bond conditions, he's been ordered not to "strike a child or adult for any reason."