Posted on 02/06/2006 7:30:41 AM PST by devane617
Gerald Georgettis apparently thought he got a raw deal on a new car. So he plowed the Ford Escape he didn't want through the glass showroom, poured gasoline on it and set the North Dade Metro Ford dealership ablaze, Miami-Dade police said Sunday. He caused nearly a million dollars in damage, scorching around a dozen cars, including a rare Ford GT Heritage, fire officials said. Georgettis, 56, a supervisor with the city of North Miami Beach, walked away from the dealership Saturday afternoon as if nothing had happened, witnesses said. Police caught up with him a few blocks away from the dealership at 9000 NW Seventh Ave. He was arrested without incident. Police charged him with first-degree arson, a felony, and with felony criminal mischief. He posted a $1,500 bond on Sunday. Georgettis could not be reached for comment. The dealership manager declined to comment. But those who know Georgettis were shocked at his apparent act of buyer's rage. North Miami Beach Mayor Raymond F. Marin was stunned to hear Georgettis, whose duties include managing the city's Jules Littman Performing Arts Theater, could do such a thing. ''He's a nice guy. I didn't know him to be malicious or anything,'' Marin said. ``He's always been nice to me and to people he knows.'' It's unclear what Georgettis' status with the city will be due to his arrest. The incident played out on a busy Saturday afternoon at the dealership. According to Miami-Dade Police, Georgettis was fuming over the price he paid, a new one goes for about $20,000 and it's unknown what price he paid for a new beige Ford Escape SUV. On Saturday he went back to the dealership. It's unclear what he was told, but he was angered with the final agreement. He calmly got into the car and drove it through the windows, sending glass shattering everywhere. He then doused gasoline or a flammable fluid on the Escape and other cars and struck a match. Denise Cruz, another customer, witnessed the jaw-dropping incident. She had brought her car to be serviced and said she was in line when she saw Georgettis careen into the showroom. ''At first I thought someone had pushed the accelerator instead of the brakes by accident,'' she said. ``But this dude drove through the showroom on purpose.'' Cruz, described the scene as ''pure panic,'' with people screaming ''he's got a bomb!'' She said that once the man was in the showroom, she saw him reach over into the passenger side for something, then heard a loud ``boom.'' ''Flames were everywhere,'' she said. But to her surprise, Georgettis, wearing a bright orange shirt and khaki shorts, was calm and strolled away. The fire spread throughout the dealership and destroyed cars, computers and paperwork. Among the cars damaged was a rare baby blue 2006 Ford GT ''Heritage,'' a limited edition model of only 250 made that sells for $150,000. A similar rage incident happened in 1994 when Stephanie Elaine Harden, angered at Pep Boys mechanics, walked into the store's showroom at 3388 N. State Road 7 and poured gasoline on the floor, then lit a match. She was arrested on charges of arson.
Sorta like leaving out the paragraphs...?
Why dont you fix it instead of complaining dip-stick.
Not once.
The guy's a supervisor in the City of North Miami? Who's the Mayor, Al Capone?
You thought this through...Fire comes in many forms.
Not to the cars, just the 'salesmen' :-)
Pooooor little man can't even take a good natured ribbing? Sheesh. You probably would get into a little snit and torch a business.
I am shopping for a new car and have visited two dealerships. My phone has not stopped ringing for the past two weeks from salesmen. I regret the day I gave my name and phone number. There is no lower scum on earth than car salesmen. They rank lower than Dims.
LOL!!!!
Yeah, I can only imagine. Guys trying to make a living by aggressively pursuing your business. The horror!
I'd guess you don't make a living by having to sell something.
Yea, he was p!ssed at something. I hope someone video taped the event and it makes it to the publc for viewing.
He should've calmed-down by drawing a cartoon, or something.
When I first heard this story in Calgary,Canada I thought maybe this guy was having some frustrating mechanical problems with his vehicle,like I have had with mine and that he was getting the run around from Ford, because they really are the worst at customer satisfaction when it comes to backing what they build . But when I read that he didn't even own it long enough to find out how many times he would have to take it back to the shop on warranty I was surprised ,but not shocked ,at what he had done. I too have said I would like to drive my car back into the showroom through the glass but would never do it . I have been so frustrated with Ford of Canada that I have a personalized license plate that reads "FORDSUX" on my Ford .I find that is a better way of sending a message to Ford than burning down a dealership and I won't go to jail for it either .But I would like to send the man a card for expressing himself the way many would like to . When people see my plate ,first they ask why and then they tell me their own Fordsux story .I have started collecting fordsux stories at my e-mail address "fordsux@hotmail.com" and then forwarding them to ford so that they can see I'm not the only person that is unsatisfied with their product . I wonder if they have read the Miami story yet.Feel free to send me your bad Ford experience if you have one .Bye.
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