Employees of the Corner Pizza Bar on Magnolia Avenue said a customer refused to pay his $50.50 bill, the station noted.
‘I was in fear that great bodily injury or death would occur.’
{snip}
Employees called 911, WFTV-TV reported, and investigators said a pair of Orlando police officers confronted Robinson across the street from the restaurant.
Robinson said he intended to pay his restaurant bill with his phone but that the device was dead, WFTV said, adding that police said his phone — on the contrary — was visibly lit.
{snip}
The other officer at the scene noted in a police report that “I was in fear that great bodily injury or death would occur,” WFTV said.
With that, the fellow officer said he punched Robinson in the face until the choking stopped, WFTV said, adding that police also maced Robinson.
Police said when medical personnel arrived, Robinson spat in an officer’s face amid an attempt to restrain him on a stretcher, WOFL reported.
{snip}
“I am upset and kind of in shock because that could have been me,” last year’s victim Mariah Gilbert told WFTV in an interview, adding that “now I have the opportunity to testify against him.”
{snip}
WOFL said the Corner Pizza Bar issued the following statement: “Fortunately, the Orlando Police Department responded quickly and handled the situation promptly and professionally. We’re very grateful for their support. While we’re still processing the impact — since we never imagined something like this happening — we’ve decided not to speak further on the matter at this time.”
The Orange County Corrections Department on Friday told Blaze News that Robinson’s bond total is $17,650 and that his first court appearance was Wednesday.
* Original Article:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-man-62-280-lbs-chokes-cop-after-bailing-on-50-pizza-bill-police-say-but-fellow-officers-fist-intervenes