Charge dropped against Sunrise man accused of punching boss in face

SUNRISE, Fla. – Prosecutors have declined to pursue a battery charge against a Sunrise man who was arrested in April for allegedly punching his boss in the face.

According to a Sunrise police report, Gerald Campbell, 29, punched his employer, Louis Dianni, in the face April 5 after Dianni got into a dispute with Campbell and tried to get him to leave.

Dianni told police that he tried to guide Campbell from the business, but Campbell punched him in the left side of his face below his eye.

Police said Campbell admitted to punching Dianni, but only because Dianni threatened him with a knife. However, Dianni and a witness told police that a knife was never involved.

Campbell was arrested on a charge of battery on a person 65 or older.

He is now cleared of the charge and said the allegations against him have caused him to be unable to find employment.

"I would like to thank Mr. Dianni and his wife for the opportunity of employment," Campbell said in a statement to Local10.com. "I wish him and his family the best. I am glad that my name is cleared from this incident. I am not a criminal or a violent person. I am, however, the victim of a one-sided arrest report, but this is just another lesson learned in the game of life. Accept positivity and ignore negativity."