A group of shirtless brawlers got caught up in a wild ‘riot’ at a Florida lake’s boating dock, prompting the local sheriff to threaten to ‘lock up’ rowdy visitors wreaking havoc on the once family-friendly getaway spot.
Unhinged partygoers were recorded launching into a ruthless brawl on the shores of Lake Winterset in Polk County on August 2 in the middle of the afternoon.
This incident, local authorities say, was the tipping point of an ongoing problem of trespassing and reckless behavior plaguing the quiet community this summer.
The fighting allegedly took place in front of peaceful families on the lakeside. The violent encounter left two of the melee participants knocked out.
One of them was seen floating facedown in the lake as a small child looked on in horror, according to the video, which was shared on social media on August 10.
Obscenity-ridden music blared as the men started shoving and chasing after each other with onlookers screaming in terror.
When one of the men was punched unconscious, a bikini-wearing woman was seen sprinting from the water to do what appeared to be an attempt at chest compressions.
A few moments later, a second man was standing in shallow water when someone sucker punched him and he lost his footing.
The group of partygoing pugilists could be seen on video launching into a ruthless brawl on the shorelines of Lake Winterset in Polk County on August 2
County Sheriff Grady Judd said seven men and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in connection to the unruly incident
The people arrested for the weekend incident are Mason Land, 23; Payton Ely, 19; Timothy ‘Owen’ Gooding, 21; Gavin Gooding, 17; Richard Carden, 40; Garrett Ore, 22; Garrett Hiltabidel, 21; and Nate Land, 21
As he floated in the lake, the person throwing the punches did not let up until the man on the receiving end blacked out.
Police say they were called to the scene around 3pm and by the time they arrived, all those involved had scattered.
They did make note of the two people left unconscious and the several children looking on.
County Sheriff Grady Judd said seven men and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in connection to the unruly incident.
The people arrested for the weekend incident are Mason Land, 23; Payton Ely, 19; Timothy ‘Owen’ Gooding, 21; Gavin Gooding, 17; Richard Carden, 40; Garrett Ore, 22; Garrett Hiltabidel, 21; and Nate Land, 21.
In a stern message issued at a Tuesday press conference, the no-nonsense sheriff vowed to make sure visitors know they must behave by the lake.
‘You can knucklebust and create brain injuries to each other on your own property without creating a disturbance to your neighbors,’ Judd said.
‘The conduct is reprehensible and, obviously, you don’t believe us when we try to warn you.
‘So you have unleashed the teeth of the dog, and now we’re going to start biting you, just like we bit these guys here.’
The fighting allegedly took place in front of peaceful families on the lakeside
Families and children looked on in horror as the chaos broke loose
He also said he would ‘lock y’all up until you figure out you can’t misbehave in the community.’
Everyone was charged with trespassing, affray, disorderly conduct and rioting, while Gooding faces the additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Judd continued to tear into the alleged culprits: ‘If you have three brain cells, you can read the “no trespassing sign.”‘
He described groups of rowdy teens and young adults trespassing on the property as an ‘ongoing’ issue that he is determined to tackle now more than ever after the August 2 incident.
‘We tried to be friendly, we tried to couch, we tried to counsel,’ Judd calmly explained, adding that the most reckless behavior occurs in an area called ‘The Point.’
He rattled off examples of feral behavior exhibited by some of the area’s violators.
Judd claimed someone defecated on someone’s yard – and it was caught on tape.
He also held up photos during the press conference, which appear to depict people having public sex.
‘This conduct is happening in the middle of the afternoon, in people’s backyards, where they are trespassing,’ Judd asserted.
He also held up photos during the press conference, which appear to depict people having public sex
Judd showed the jaw-dropping video and looked on as it showed a man being punched down into the lake
‘We’re over it.’
Judd said that from this point forward, Marine Patrol officers will be probing the area to crack down on crime and indecent behavior.
‘We’re going to put people in jail this weekend for conduct we previously tried to warn you about.’
Lake Winterset is a part of the Winter Haven Southern Chain of Lakes. It is a 544-acre public lake, but many private properties surround the area.
But the issue of hot-headed partiers is nothing new to the summer vacation spot, according to fed-up locals.
‘They’re docking their boats on the land, not in the water,’ resident Gary Resmondo told WFLA.
‘I can’t even hear myself think. On the weekends, it’s horrible. I’m a 74-year-old Vietnam combat-disabled veteran, and I can’t even sit on my back porch.
‘I’m really thinking about giving somebody my $2 million house, and I’m leaving.’
