A Gambrills man was being held without bail yesterday at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center in Annapolis after he was accused of beating an acquaintance to death over a few dollars Saturday evening.

Patrick Robert Aldridge was arrested a few blocks from the scene of the Crofton attack, standing outside a restaurant where police say he was bragging about the beating. Aldridge, 28, of the 1300 block of Defense Highway, was charged with first- and second-degree murder.

Cleadis Bruce Barnes, 40, was found lying naked in his front yard in the 1400 block of Defense Highway shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday. He had been badly beaten in his face and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.

About the same time, officers were called to Remo's restaurant on Route 450 to check on an injured man, later identified as Aldridge. He had several cuts on his arms and hand, and officers said he explained the injuries by saying he had just beaten another man who owed him money, according to charging documents filed in court yesterday.

According to the documents, Aldridge told officers he dragged Barnes out of his house and took his pants, which police said they found covered in blood in a trash bin in the parking lot of the restaurant. Large amounts of blood were found in Barnes' living room, according to the court documents.

Aldridge continued to brag about the beating and getting his $5 back in front of officers at the restaurant, court documents say. Officers quoted Aldridge as saying, "I should've killed him."