HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A central Florida man was arrested Monday after he punched and beat a man he thought was standing too close to his girlfriend at a Hallandale Beach store, police said.
Micheal Butterworth, 37, of Lady Lake, faces one count of felony battery stemming from the altercation at a Big Lots store on Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
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According to the police report, Moises Cohen was standing behind Butterworth in line when Butterworth accused him of "standing too close to his girlfriend."
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The result was a verbal confrontation that turned violent when Butterworth punched Cohen in the face, the report said. Cohen fell to the ground, and Butterworth punched him several more times before getting up and leaving the store, the report said.
Cohen followed Butterworth out of the store while calling police, but Butterworth saw him and reached into his pocket, causing Cohen to run off, the report said.
Butterworth chased after Cohen and eventually caught up with him, kicking him and punching him multiple times, the report said.
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Police said the assault was over by the time they arrived.
Cohen suffered a broken nose and swollen eye. He was taken to Aventura Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
Butterworth was being held at the main Broward County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
The girlfriend's name was not listed in the report.
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