The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man was apprehended after allegedly battering an employee and a customer during a confrontation regarding his refusal to wear a face-covering inside a hardware store.
Late in the afternoon on August 25, a man identified as 51-year-old Russell Alan Wood reportedly took a trip to the local Ace Hardware Store in Largo.
When he entered the store, Wood was reportedly informed that to patronize the business he would be required to don a face covering.
After allegedly declining to follow the stated rules more than once, Wood was reportedly asked to leave the establishment.
As the employee was interacting with Wood and telling him he would need to depart from the store, Wood allegedly responded by forcefully coughing in the man’s face before smacking him.
Since Wood allegedly declined to cooperate with the employee, who reportedly shoved the man after being shoved, he was walked to the door and removed from the premises.
While he was on his way to the exit, Wood reportedly belted a shopper in the face and made threats to set the building on fire.
After Wood took off, the authorities were notified about the incident, and Largo police officers tracked him down and asked him about the situation that allegedly occurred at Ace.
As stated in the affidavit, when giving his side of the story to the officers Wood reportedly said he only became physical with the alleged victim to defend himself.
Despite his justification to the police, Wood was taken into custody and incarcerated in the county jail. He was held on a $250 bond, and he is currently expected to face charges for misdemeanor battery for the allegations.
If you or someone you love is suspected of an assault or battery offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.