A Clermont man was apprehended for battery after reportedly swerving his golf cart into a boy riding an electric bike and seizing his arm.
At 5:50 p.m., a deputy responded to a physical incident between a juvenile and Joseph Arthur Schultz, 61, near Sanctuary Drive and Rolling Plains Circle in Clermont. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest report on Tuesday, May 5.
The juvenile victim stated that he was riding his electric bike through the neighborhood when he waved at Schultz. He said, “Hey, Joe,” which he explained was a “lucky guess” at his name. According to the report, Schultz became upset and turned back to chase the juvenile victim and his buddies.
He attempted to knock the adolescent victim off his bike by veering a golf cart at him. The young victim had to maneuver to escape being hit by the golf cart and was concerned for his life during the incident. He continued to walk away from Schultz, but was stopped off by a golf cart, according to the report.
Schultz then grasped his right forearm, causing red marks. The juvenile victim showed the deputy the marks. Two marks on his arms had surrounding bruises, but he wasn’t sure if they were the result of being grabbed, according to the report.
A video he captured on his phone had little evidential value because it just showed Schultz driving his golf cart parallel to the minor victim. He continuously warned Schultz, “Don’t touch me.” He said, “I won’t touch you again.” The juvenile victim also stated that Schultz threatened to “put a bullet through” him and his companions the next time, according to the report.
The deputy then went to Schultz’s home on Rolling Plains Circle to speak with him about the incident. According to the complaint, children on scooters and electric bikes were running stop signs, riding on the wrong side of the road, and driving on sidewalks across the area.
He stopped the young victim and instructed him to slow down and obey traffic laws. The young victim cursed at him and started recording him. According to the allegation, Schultz responded with obscenity, prompting the kids to threaten him and his home.
Schultz informed them that if anything happened to his house, such as a brick through his windshield or an egged house, he would “find” them and “put a bullet” in their legs, according to the report. He went on to say, “I won’t kill you, but I’ll hurt you,” emphasizing that this was “a promise, not a threat.”
When queried about the footage of him swerving the golf cart toward the young victim, he claimed the victim was “coming at” him from the sidewalk. He admitted to touching the juvenile victim and explaining that he was being intimidated, according to the report.
Schultz was eventually arrested on accusations of aggravated assault without intent to murder and simple violence. The New Jersey native was booked into Lake County Jail and released after posting a $6,000 bond.
Leave a Comment