A Tinder meetup in Lady Lake allegedly turned violent when 67-year-old David O'Brien pursued and rammed a woman's car with his Ford F-150, then threatened a fourth occupant with a semi-automatic Ruger, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. O'Brien had reportedly offered the woman $1,000 per visit and given her $200 and $600 before she left feeling uncomfortable; deputies say he demanded the money back and then chased the vehicle. Multiple 911 calls led to an investigation; the threatened man escaped before deputies arrived, and O'Brien now faces aggravated assault charges.
Tinder Date Turns Violent: Florida Man Allegedly Rams Car, Points Gun at Stranger
Image Credit: WESH.
A routine Tinder meetup in Lady Lake, Florida, allegedly escalated into a dangerous confrontation that included a crash, a chase and a firearm being pointed at a person, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
What Happened
The suspect, 67-year-old David O'Brien of The Villages, reportedly told the woman he was seeking a "sugar baby" and offered $1,000 per visit. The two met for dinner; the woman’s friends dropped her off. The report says O'Brien took her shopping for lingerie, gave her $200, and later handed over another $600 after they returned to his home.
At some point the woman said she felt uncomfortable and called her friends to pick her up. Deputies allege O'Brien insisted the money be returned because he considered it part of a different arrangement. The woman left and got into her friends' car.
Alleged Pursuit And Assault
Police say O'Brien pursued the vehicle in his Ford F-150. Near the roundabout at El Camino Real and Buena Vista Boulevard, he allegedly struck the rear of the car, forcing it into a pole, then circled back and rammed it a second time, disabling the vehicle. Three occupants fled on foot; a fourth was reportedly confronted by O'Brien, who allegedly pointed a semi-automatic Ruger pistol, ordered the man to the ground and threatened to kill him.
Multiple 911 calls were placed from the scene. The man who had been ordered to the ground managed to escape before deputies arrived, according to the report. O'Brien's own statements in the report are redacted, so his account is not yet public.
Charges And Investigation
O'Brien faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. The incident was reported by local outlet WESH and is under investigation by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
Note: All allegations are from the arrest report; the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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