A tourist from the UK was taken into custody on Sunday, accused of attempting to drown his daughter-in-law following a disagreement regarding his grandchildren.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said that Mark Raymond Gibbon, 62, has been charged with attempted second degree murder and two counts of battery.
The sheriff’s office reported that deputies responded to a disturbance at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, observed late Sunday afternoon, involving a backyard swimming pool.
The 33-year-old woman involved and other witnesses recounted that she and Gibbon were quarreling about his grandchildren while in the pool at the vacation rental, according to the sheriff’s office.
A probable cause affidavit was more specific, Law&Crime reported, saying that the arguments stemmed over “stipulations” in Gibbon’s will.
Gibbon allegedly shoved the woman and repeatedly submerged her head, leading her 9-year-old daughter to dive in to try to prevent her grandfather from harming her mother, stated the sheriff’s office.
Gibbon reportedly stopped only after a pair of sisters vacationing next door called out that they had called police.
“We welcome visitors from around the globe to Polk County, but we expect them to behave during their stay, just as our long-term residents do,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Mr. Gibbon’s inability to manage his anger might result in him spending more time in Florida than he planned.”
The affidavit noted that Gibbon confessed to pushing the woman underwater but claimed he did not intend to drown her, adding that both had been drinking and she had slapped him.
