Florida Man Attacks Jogger With Sword During Fight Over Who Gets to Take Home Plastic Dump Cart Found on Trash Pile
A Florida man who was caught on camera attacking a jogger with a sword during a dispute about ownership of a plastic dump cart is being hunted by police.
The suspect—who remains unidentified—can be seen in surveillance footage released yesterday swinging the long weapon at Todd Beavers, 48, during the altercation, which took place in an Oakland Park neighborhood on July 15. Police are now appealing for public help.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, Beavers had been out for a jog when he spotted the cart on a trash pile in front of a home close to Prospect Road and Northwest 11th Terrace. His discovery appeared to anger a man who was already rummaging through the items.
The pair had a verbal disagreement but Beavers took the cart and soon noticed that he was being followed.
The suspect was seen on surveillance footage walking towards Beavers and removing a sword from a red sheath before wildly lashing out at the victim's arms during a tussle for control of the cart. Beavers, holding a cellphone, is seen motioning towards the home camera system.
The attacker retreated—but the situation did not end there.
According the sheriff's office, an unidentified woman approached the victim's property minutes later and dragged the cart away while hurling insults. Detectives believe the suspect and the woman know each other, police public information officer Keyla Concepción confirmed.
Like the male sword-wielding trash pile hunter, the woman was also caught on camera and can be clearly seen in the 54-second clip. She remains unidentified at the time of writing.
Beavers told WPLG that he regretted his actions and was lucky to have come off without injury. "I guess he could have really hurt me," he said. "That would have been even worse."
Police said that anyone with tips leading to the arrest of the suspects is eligible for a reward of up to $3,000. The surveillance video was uploaded yesterday to the department's YouTube channel.
"If you recognize the suspect or the woman seen dragging the cart away in the video, please contact BSO Violent Crimes Unit Detective Tiberio Barbosa at 954-321-4278. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org," Concepción said in a statement published online during the public appeal.
"They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, but is a plastic dump cart found in a bulk trash pile worth going to jail for? A man in Oakland Park apparently thinks so," the PIO added.
