MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 71-year-old man was arrested after deputies said he pepper-sprayed three people during a confrontation in a Publix parking lot in southwest Miami-Dade.

The incident occurred just before 3:30 p.m. at a Publix located at 15771 SW 152nd St. in the county’s Country Walk area, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said the suspect, Julio Rodriguez, is accused of accelerating his vehicle toward a man who was attempting to cross the parking lot to retrieve a shopping cart, nearly striking him.

The victim told deputies a verbal argument followed, during which Rodriguez allegedly reached into his vehicle’s center console, retrieved a bottle of pepper spray, exited the car and sprayed the man, as well as the man’s wife and another bystander, according to the report.

Deputies said Rodriguez then got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. The victim was able to provide officers with a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, according to the report.

Authorities later located Rodriguez, who lives near the Publix where the incident occurred, and took him into custody without further incident, the report states.

Deputies said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported Rodriguez to Jackson South Medical Center before he was taken to jail.

Jail records show he is facing one count of aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older and two counts of battery.

As of Wednesday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed at $3,000. He was also ordered to stay away from the victims.

Miami-Dade senior accused of pepper-spraying 3 in Publix parking lot

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