Elderly Florida Diner Beaten In Cursing Dispute

OCTOBER 1--When an 80-year-old Applebee’s patron politely asked him to stop loudly cursing and talking about “titties and ass,” a Floridian, 26, responded by punching the octogenarian in the face, according to police.

The confrontation late Sunday in the Port Orange eatery resulted in the arrest of Mikie Sawyer on a felony charge for battering a person over the age of 65.

Harry Sander told police that he was at the Applebee’s bar when he heard Sawyer “talking obscenities.” Sander said that he approached Sawyer “and asked him politely if he could please stop using the ‘fuck’ word and stop talking so loud about ‘titties and ass,’” according to a police report.

After Sawyer replied that he did not have to stop cursing, Sander noted that in his home country of Germany, “you don’t speak in such a manner.” A witness told a Port Orange Police Department officer that Sawyer replied, “I don’t care where you are from whether it be Russia or Dutch take your ass to the other side of the bar.”

Sawyer then allegedly punched Sander in the face and pushed the pensioner to the Applebee’s floor. Sander “stated he does not remember much after that moment.” Sander’s left eye was red and his left cheek was “discolored and bruised,” noted investigators, who added that Sawyer’s knuckles “appeared discolored and bruised.”

The elderly victim was treated for his injuries by emergency medical services who responded to the Applebee’s.

Following the punch, Sawyer departed with two friends. When a restaurant manager followed him into the parking lot, Sawyer charged the worker in a “threatening manner” and warned that he “would also kick [the employee’s] ass too.”

Sawyer, who was apprehended during a traffic stop, was arrested for battery and disporderly conduct, a misdemeanor. (2 pages)