Inset: Burton McDonald (Marion County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Walmart in Ocala, Fla., where Burton McDonald and his roommate were being picked up by an Uber (Google Maps).
A Florida man allegedly struck his roommate in the face with a Walmart grocery bag containing a “tub of ice cream” after becoming angry about how much space the man’s belongings occupied in an Uber, police said.
Burton McDonald, 60, reportedly lost his temper when his roommate attempted to place “several large plants” in the back of the Uber. The plants left McDonald with limited room in the rear seat, according to an arrest affidavit.
The Uber had arrived to pick up the two men at a Walmart in Ocala.
“When loading items back into the Uber’s vehicle, the defendant became upset with him over how much space he was taking up in the Uber,” the affidavit states. The roommate told investigators that McDonald struck him in the face, leaving redness on his left cheek. He said he was not certain what hit him, but described the object as something hard.
Deputies responding to the Walmart found the roommate with visible redness on his left cheek. He said McDonald had accompanied him to the store to purchase groceries and other “items” for the group home where they lived.
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Because neither man was able to drive, the roommate told police they had arranged the trip through the Uber app, according to the affidavit.
McDonald gave police a different account, saying his roommate had “mouthed off” and “nudged him on his side.” He also said he was upset because the items the roommate bought were taking up too much room in the Uber. According to the affidavit, McDonald said he struck his roommate because of the alleged remarks.
The Uber driver reportedly witnessed the dispute and supported the roommate’s account, telling investigators that McDonald was the aggressor.
The driver said he saw the men arguing in the back of the vehicle before McDonald hit the roommate in the face with a Walmart bag containing a tub of ice cream. He also told police that the roommate never touched, pushed or struck McDonald, the affidavit says.
McDonald was arrested and charged with battery on a person 65 or older, according to court records. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
The post Man uses ‘tub of ice cream’ from Walmart to teach his roommate a violent lesson about taking up too much space in an Uber: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
