Every day there are several so-called Florida Man stories about some truly absurd crimes.
Usually, these news articles cover a truly stupid crime or action by a Florida Man.
And now a Florida man has been arrested for allegedly attacking an elderly woman and her daughter for one ridiculous reason.
A Florida man was arrested recently for allegedly assaulting an older woman over a church parking spot, according to local Orlando authorities.
He really wanted that parking space
John Phillips, 65, was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting a woman during an incident last September in the parking lot of St. John Vianney Catholic Church of Orlando.
Phillips was booked last week in Orange County and faces charges of “aggravated battery (great bodily harm)” and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult.
And all over a parking space.
According to an affidavit filed in Orange County Circuit Court last month, the charges are from a September 25 incident when Marti Delzingaro and her daughter Jenna Delzingaro got to St. John Vianney to pick up her granddaughter from daycare.
Due to Marti Delzingaro’s mobility issues, the two women parked the car in a handicapped spot at the church lot for a few brief minutes.
Then, as Jenna Delzingaro was putting her niece in a car seat, Phillips arrived in a black truck and allegedly blocked them in the space.
According to the affidavit, Phillips complained to the women about taking the handicapped parking space, and the argument between him and the adult daughter became increasingly tense.
At that point Phillips then allegedly physically attacked Jenna Delzingaro, repeatedly punching her.
When the grandmother tried to intervene and help her daughter, Phillips reportedly violently grabbed her.
He attacked women then ran away when men arrived
Phillips fled when church staff and other parents arrived in response to Delzingaro’s screaming.
After the incident, the Delzingaro’s went to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Marti Delzingaro was able to provide police with the license plate number of Phillips’ black truck.
Authorities tracked down Phillips through the license plate number and security camera footage from the church, which captured the entire incident from start to finish.
“The video clearly shows John Phillips walk up and push the car door into Jenna Delzingaro. The video shows him strike her down again after she pushes him back and then shove her to the ground … after she got up,” stated the affidavit.
“The video shows John Phillips grab Mrs. Marti [Delzingaro’s] arms and push her while she was trying to separate him from [her] daughter. … Jenna Delzingaro stated she was in fear for her niece and mother who were inside the car, and her only actions were to keep John Phillips away from her and the car.”
Phillips was clearly overwrought by the women parking illegally in a handicapped space, but when he decided to take matters into his own hands, he clearly crossed the line.
Phillips should have never physically assaulted the women, let alone an elderly woman, even if they did take a prime parking spot from him.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
