PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA) — In a startling incident at a Publix in Port Charlotte, a man was apprehended after allegedly attacking a couple with bug spray over a disagreement about cutting in line.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Publix around 2 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a call about a physical altercation.
Deputies said the incident began inside the store when Daniel Kenel, 65, became upset at the couple while in the checkout line.
An investigation revealed that the woman was waiting for her husband in line when Kenel approached and tried to get in front of her.
- 15-year-old boy briefly detained at Alligator Alcatraz, attorney says
- Blue Spring State Park vandalized within 2 weeks of reopening
The woman told Kenel that she was in line, which upset him, deputies said.
The victims began placing their items on the checkout belt, and Kenel began to do the same, furthering the argument.
According to the CCSO, the husband stepped between his wife and Kenel and told him to back off.
Kenel left his cart and items and ran out of the store.
Authorities reported that after the altercation inside the store, the man, identified as Kenel, relocated his vehicle to a different spot in the parking lot to prepare for an assault on the couple.
As the couple left the store and started loading their groceries, Kenel reportedly approached them from behind and sprayed bug spray in their faces before fleeing the scene.
- Florida man attacks couple with bug spray outside Publix, deputies say
- ‘Monkey-barring’ is the newest term for an unhealthy relationship habit, expert says
Sheriff Bill Prummell commented, “This vile and cowardly act over something as trivial as a checkout line is troubling. The extreme measures this individual took were both dangerous and unjustified. In times of frustration, it’s important to pause and consider if the reaction is warranted—often, the answer is no.”
The man required medical treatment and was taken to a local hospital.
Deputies located Kenel nearby, where he was identified by the victims and refused to discuss the incident with deputies.
Kenel was placed under arrest on two counts of aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
