According to Florida law enforcement, a New York man has been arrested following an alcohol-fueled altercation with deputies.
Jeffrey Kimmel, 38, is charged with a variety of crimes, including one count of burglary, burglary with assault or battery, resisting an officer with violence, breach of the peace, criminal mischief in excess of $1,000, and eight counts of battery on an officer, according to Flagler County Jail records.
Authorities say the defendant is from the small upstate village of Wappingers Falls in the Empire State, but the incident took place at the Sharps Discount Liquors in Palm Coast, a small city about 60 miles southeast of Jacksonville.
According to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to “a verbal disturbance” around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, but discovered that the words were only the beginning.
“While en route, dispatchers informed deputies that a customer with a large knife in his waistband was standing on top of the counter spitting and throwing glass bottles all over the floor,” according to the announcement.
Kimmel was reportedly “still on top of the counter” and in a “erratic state” after the clerk refused to sell him more alcohol. Deputies then removed the man from the store.
“While outside the store, Kimmel — whose hands were still bleeding from his earlier outburst — began resisting deputies by violently kicking, screaming, and spitting,” according to the news release. “Due to Kimmel actively spitting blood at deputies who were restraining him, deputies placed a spit mask over his head to protect themselves from his bodily fluids.”
The store clerk stated that the interaction began innocently enough.
According to the clerk, the defendant first came in to buy four shots of liquor and then left. Then Kimmel returned to get more drinks. This time, however, the store turned him away.
That denial allegedly enraged the man. According to the sheriff’s office, Kimmel screamed at the clerk before jumping on the front counter and kicking items to the floor.
During the alleged outburst, the clerk and several other customers retreated to the back room to await help.
In body-worn camera footage of the subsequent arrest, the defendant appears calm at first.
“We’re just trying to figure out why you were up on the counter,” one deputy explains.
The man identified as Kimmel responds, “That’s your job to figure out.”
“Alright, bro,” says the deputy. “As long as you’re cool with us, we’ll be cool with you, bro.”
Moments later, the arrested man responds, visibly struggling: “Boogie-dee, boogie-dee, boogie-dee.” Beat my ass. Pepper spray me. Taser me. Woo. Wee, haw. Wee, haw. “F-you, sir.”
“No,” a deputy replies.
Then the man says, “Do it again.” Try it again. I prefer the rough stuff. “I am going to bite your hands and spit on you.”
Then the man spits.
Next, the man is placed on the pavement and continues to spit at multiple deputies while verbally addressing and cursing them. The defendant is fitted with a spit hood before being lifted and placed in the back of a patrol car.
Kimmel is currently detained at the Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a $236,000 bond.
“This guy must have wanted another drink, but he realized he was not in New York, and we will not tolerate such behavior in Florida,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This individual’s violent outburst endangered innocent people and caused significant damage to a local business.” Our deputies’ actions resulted in his arrest before anyone was seriously injured. He also discovered that Florida is not a catch-and-release state, and if you attack a Deputy Sheriff, we will apprehend you and transport you to the Green Roof Inn.”
