ALTOONA, Fla. – A grocery delivery turned into “a physical disturbance” and it wasn’t over the order. The trouble started when the driver got stuck in front of Richard Edward Fritzinger’s house.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived to Fritzinger’s family claiming “a tow truck driver forcibly grabbed the defendant and threatened to cut him with a knife, when all he did was ask the tow truck driver what his name was,” on the evening of Jan. 17 in Florida.
“While making a grocery delivery for Kroger,” the first victim said, “she became stuck due to the loose, sandy road. Due to being in a company vehicle, the victim is required to request a professional tow.”
“While stuck in the sand,” the arrest report continued, “she was approached by the defendant, who offered to tow her out of the sand for $100. She declined the offer and rolled up her window.
“Once the tow truck driver arrived in his jeep, the defendant stepped in front of the Kroger vehicle and refused to move from the way of the tow truck driver, so that he could pull the vehicle out. The only way for the victim to leave the scene would be for the tow truck driver to connect his tow straps and move her.
“Although the defendant continuously refused to move out of the way, the tow truck driver was able to get one strap on the vehicle. The defendant took off the tow strap and threw it at him, striking the tow truck driver in the nose with the hook of the strap, causing bleeding.
“The tow truck driver grabbed the defendant by his shoulders and moved him out of the way for a second, and went to hook the strap back up, at which time the defendant began to kick him.
“The family of the defendant arrived on scene and began to yell at the tow truck driver, due to him yelling at the defendant. The defendant’s grandson started a physical altercation. Once the altercation was over and the parties separated, they called law enforcement.
“The victim recorded a video of this entire incident, which was reviewed on scene and showed her story to be consistent.”
Deputies reported seeing the tow truck driver “pushing down the grandson and restraining him, while asking him if he’s done fighting.
“Once the defendant began to strike the driver, he pushed him down, backed away from the altercation, and told him that he will use his knife if he is attacked again. The tow truck driver continued backing away while making this statement.
“The defendant then went right back in front of the Kroger truck to continue to contain the victim in the same spot.”
Fritzinger, the arrest report said, “stated that this incident would have been avoided if the tow truck driver provided his name, due to being on ‘private property.’
“He advised that he did stand in front of the truck and would not allow him to hook up to the Kroger truck.”
Authorities disagreed with Fritzinger on where the violence took place. They wrote in the arrest report, it happened in a “public place,” and on the “road in front of residence.”
Then, they arrested Fritzinger “for falsely imprisoning the victim, due to stopping her only way of leaving. The victim was unable to step out of the vehicle, due to not feeling safe because of the physical altercation.”
Fritzinger, 70, was released on his own recognizance after 18 hours in jail. That was despite being charged with a felony, and a Marion County property search showing he owns seven parcels around the neighborhood.
His grandson was not named and could not be identified, despite a witness list of eight people who live in the neighborhood.
Also, there’s no mention of any other charge or case over Fritzinger allegedly hitting the tow truck driver in the nose with the tow strap, causing bleeding.
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