According to authorities, a Florida man who was upset about his 75-year-old neighbor’s “placement of garbage” outside his apartment building struck him with a “electric bicycle tire and rim,” striking him in the face, head, and torso.
According to local Fox station WSVN, police say 47-year-old George Horton was upset about how his neighbor, Rodolfo Ortega, was getting rid of his trash at the Normandy Isle apartment complex where they lived close to the 1200 block of Normandy Drive. Shortly before noon on Monday, the purported attack took place.
Regarding the alleged e-bike attack, Ortega told WSVN and other local media that “he tried to kill me,” referring to Horton.
“I tell the guy, ‘Don’t touch me,’” Ortega said.
“He touched me, and I tried to defend [myself],” Ortega added, noting that the alleged attack “broke” his head open.
According to Horton’s police record, which local ABC affiliate WPLG was able to get, he attacked Ortega with the bike tire and rim after the victim used a screwdriver “to defend himself.” According to the report, things started out as a verbal argument between the two of them “about the placement of garbage” and got out of hand.
Ortega informed WSVN that during the incident, he fell to the ground and cut his hands, head, and other body parts. The alleged attack can be seen in the surveillance footage taken from a nearby location.
“I don’t have nothing with the guy, no problem,” Ortega said, noting how he says hello to Horton on a daily basis. “Every day I say hi.”
According to the police’s arrest report, Horton wasn’t found until Tuesday morning. According to WPLG, he was discovered at the victim’s front door by officers conducting a surveillance operation, “knocking and yelling incoherent statements.” When authorities were speaking to Horton, they claimed that he had a “strong” alcohol stench “emitting from his breath.”
Horton is being detained on a felony charge of assaulting a someone who is 65 years of age or older.
The security film “clearly depicts the physical altercation as described” and “corroborates the victim’s account,” according to the police’s arrest report.
