Posted on 03/11/2011 7:05:16 AM PST by Sam's Army
What began as a dispute between neighbors about yard work ended when one of them was arrested and physically subdued by Lakeland police officers.
Joe Florence, 57, 620 Chatham Drive, was stunned with a Taser on Tuesday night and left with a bloody face, broken nose and possibly a broken jaw, he said Thursday.
He disputes the police reports of the struggle, which said Florence became very agitated, was told he was being placed under arrest and then fought an officer.
Police said Officers Nicholas Ivancevich and Heather Freeman received minor injuries in the scuffle, a portion of which was photographed by Florence's wife.
Florence was charged with two counts of battery to a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. He was also charged with one count each of assault on a law enforcement officer, depriving an officer of communication and resisting an officer without violence, reports said.
He was taken in a police car to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and transferred to the Polk County Jail on Wednesday. He was released Thursday on $6,500 bail.
The incident happened about 8 p.m. Tuesday after Steven Roth, Florence's neighbor on Chatham Drive, called police to complain about Florence, reports said.
Roth told police Florence had mowed Roth's yard earlier in the day without permission because Florence was unhappy with the way it looked, reports said.
On Tuesday, Roth told police Florence connected a hose to Roth's water spigot and began watering Roth's yard without permission. Roth asked police to give Florence a trespass warning, according to reports.
Ivancevich and Freeman went to Florence's home to talk with him.
The officers' report said when Florence came out of his house he became aggressive and refused to calm down. Officers said they smelled alcohol. It wasn't clear whether Florence's blood-alcohol level was later tested.
Florence complained about the condition of Roth's yard, telling officers the grass was overgrown and dying.
As the confrontation continued, the report said, Ivancevich moved to arrest Florence and Florence struck the officer in the face and attempted to choke him.
Freeman used a Taser on Florence three times during the struggle, but Florence continued to fight aggressively, the LPD reports said, and Florence tore Ivancevich's radio microphone from his uniform, disconnecting the cord from the radio.
The two officers subdued Florence and he was taken to Lakeland Regional.
Florence disputes the police account of the struggle and said he never tried to strike Ivancevich or choke him.
Florence said he mowed and watered Roth's yard about 1 p.m. Tuesday, as he had the past three years.
Later in the day, Roth asked him not to do it anymore.
Florence said he told Roth that if he didn't like it he could call the police.
"I told him the State Attorney's Office isn't going to charge someone with cutting someone's yard," Florence said.
When Ivancevich and Freeman came to his home, Florence said, Ivancevich became very irritated while he was trying to tell his side of the story.
Florence said he tried to talk directly to Freeman until he got tired of talking to the officers and went to go back inside his home.
As he went to grab the door handle, Ivancevich grabbed him and yanked him backward, he said.
"From there it became a tussle," Florence said.
"He grabbed me and pulled me toward the ground. He didn't say he was placing me under arrest."
Florence said he had a glass of wine with dinner and about a half a glass just before the officers arrived at his home, but he wasn't drunk.
"When the officers attacked me, I yelled for my wife to get the camera," he said.
Numerous photographs shared with The Ledger show police arresting Florence, including one of a handcuffed Florence with Ivancevich's knees positioned on his upper body and Freeman securing Florence's legs.
"It's unfortunate they did that," Florence said.
"They (the officers) are young and don't really know how to handle situations."
Florence, a retired pharmaceutical sales representative, said he had hired a criminal defense lawyer, but declined to give the lawyer's name. He said he would be seeking a lawyer for possible civil action.
Lakeland police spokeswoman Sgt. Terri Smith said standard police policy is to review incidents that result in physical injuries or signs of injury.
The review goes up the chain of command to the police chief and internal affairs unit.
She said violence against police officers isn't tolerated.
"What did he expect the outcome to be?" she said Thursday.
"He brought it on himself. He made some very poor decisions."
What is it with newspaper website formatting these days? Our local rag’s online site went with no paragraphs and double spacing sentences. It’s irritating to read.
Where is Lakeland? (Which state)
Good grief! If someone wants to mow and water my yard, I’d give them a beer rather than calling the cops on them.
“Florence said he mowed and watered Roth’s yard about 1 p.m. Tuesday, as he had the past three years. “
Wow. Seems like it would have been easier to let it grow, and then call the city and file a complaint about the tall grass.
Guy says he has been doing the mowing and watering for his neighbor for three years.
Maybe he ran out of beer.
I think Florida.
Florida, about 40 miles southwest of Orlando.
Hmmm raccoon eyes could be an indication of a more serious injury....
He got his ass kicked by a girl.
It’s gotta be Flori-duh.
In the search box, it says Florida as does the contact page.
Florida, 50 miles (and 50 years) southwest of Orlando, 30 NE of Tampa.
Polk County, the Iron and Steel Capitol of Florida.
By day, the women iron.
By night, the men steal.
>> Officers said they smelled alcohol
well hell yeah! You’d HAVE to be drunk to waste time mowing the neighbor’s lawn.
Shoot, I won’t even mow my OWN lawn until Mrs. Tick threatens to make me look like Mr. Florence looked after the cops got done with him. :-)
I was there last week and I finally smartened up and took the Polk County toll road and drove AROUND the dang place rather than try to drive through it which takes forever, even if you hit every light.
Don’t water someone else’s yard w/out permission.
Going for adverse possession? (a concept I really don’t understand btw).
Later in the day, Roth asked him not to do it anymore. Florence said he told Roth that if he didn't like it he could call the police.Hindsight is 20-20 but I can't help noticing that right here is where it all went wrong.
All Florence had to say was "Ok, I won't do it anymore."
I wonder if this is an example of When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
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