A Fruitland Park man went to jail on his birthday after he reportedly became belligerent with police investigating a disturbance outside Legends Café.
Joseph Robert Gaeta, who turned 53 on Friday, was charged with resisting an officer without violence after the incident, which happened shortly after 10 p.m. at the restaurant, located at 3430 U.S. Hwy. 27/441.
Fruitland Park police officers responding to a report of an affray found several people outside the restaurant involved in an active verbal altercation. Witnesses told officers that Gaeta, who is 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, was the primary instigator. The victims did not want to prosecute, but the owner of the restaurant said he wanted Gaeta trespassed from the location, according to the police report.
An officer tried to tell Gaeta he was being trespassed without success as Gaeta continually and belligerently yelled for her to, “tell it to the judge.” Another officer spoke with Gaeta, who became increasingly belligerent. When asked for his identification, Gaeta became aggressive and told officers to call his lawyer, and that he did not want to provide any identification, the report said.
The officer tried to explain to Gaeta that because he was identified as the primary aggressor and was being trespassed, officers needed to identify him. Gaeta became verbally resistant and would not comply with the officer’s commands, according to the report.
Due to Gaeta’s increasing resistance, he was arrested and placed in handcuffs. While being searched as part of his arrest, Gaeta tried to pull away to speak with other people. He repeatedly said he wanted to be released and did not consent to being searched, the report said.
Gaeta, who is employed by Carter & Carter Construction, was taken without further incident to the Lake County Jail, where he was released Saturday afternoon. He will appear in Lake County Court at 8 a.m. April 27.
