PALM HARBOR — A 20-year-old man faces attempted murder charges after Pinellas deputies say he tried to choke out a 75-year-old woman with a metal dog leash.

Prior to the altercation, the two were walking their dogs.

The drama didn't end there. The man's brothers were arrested, too, for how the Sheriff's Office says they treated the responding deputies.

The Sheriff's Office got a call at 3:30 p.m. Thursday of an assault occurring at 754 First Court. Deputies said they saw Emanuel Qosaj on top of the 75-year-old woman, battering and choking her.

Deputies did not release the woman's name.

Deputies said witnesses tried to intervene, but Qosaj pushed them away. Deputies had to use a Taser on the 20-year-old to subdue and handcuff him, they said.

Deputies also said that Qosaj's brothers — Alfred Kole Qosaj, 41, and Genc Kole Qosaj, 36 — interfered with the investigation. Genc, according to the Sheriff's Office, struggled with a corporal and injured the officer's hand. Genc's mugshot shows a small wound on his nose.

He was arrested on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.

Deputies arrested Alfred on charges he resisted an officer without violence.

The 75-year-old was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Emanuel Qosaj, who spat on emergency personnel transporting him to the same hospital, was medically cleared.

In addition to attempted murder, he faces one count of simple battery and two counts of battery on an emergency medical care provider.

The three Qosaj brothers all bonded out of Pinellas County Jail, where Emanuel had been held on a $30,500 bail.