Villager sentenced to prison for chasing down and attacking FedEx driver

A villager has been sentenced for using his golf cart to pursue a FedEx driver whom he believed was driving too quickly through his neighborhood.

Eugene Frederick Gehrt Jr., 77, of Pennecamp, pleaded no contest to battery earlier this month in Sumter County Court. He has been placed on probation for a year.

The FedEx driver was delivering deliveries on Markridge Loop in the Village of Pennecamp in January when he heard Gehrt, who resides on neighboring Glenmont Court, yelling at him, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The FedEx driver originally “did not think much of it” and assumed Gehrt “was waiting for a package and wanted it early.” Gehrt arrived in his golf cart next to the vehicle after the driver had stopped it. Gehrt began “yelling” at the FedEx driver, telling him to get out of the truck.

The Illinois native began pointing at the driver’s face and slapping his hand. Gehrt used profanity during the exchange, according to the investigation. The driver informed Gehrt, who had entered the delivery truck, that there were cameras in his vehicle filming the interaction. Gehrt answered with obscenity, indicating that he didn’t care.

Gehrt later informed a deputy that he thought the FedEx driver was traveling “too fast” and was scared the driver’s truck might harm his dog.