FELLSMERE — A man was jailed after deputies said he pointed a Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol at a boat towing employee in a dispute over the cost to haul a disabled vessel.
Ronald Frank Barker
PHOTO PROVIDED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Ronald Frank Barker, 78, of the 300 block of Vista Court, Vero Beach, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Barker was released Thursday from the Indian River County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of someone flashing a weapon shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday at Headwaters Boat Ramp, 16955 Fellsmere Grade Road. Deputies learned that Absolute Boat Towing and Salvage services was called to recover a disabled boat – with two people aboard – from the stick marsh.
The boat, carrying Barker and another person, broke down about 1:30 p.m., reports show. Barker made “hours of phone calls” to his insurance company and received a call from Absolute Boat Towing at 5:30 p.m., according to a sheriff’s arrest report.
Deputies said it took the boat towing employees a significant amount of time to find the boat in the marsh. The workers used a tugboat to lug the vessel about halfway to the dock when one employee stopped the boat to collect the payment, reports show.
Barker had the understanding the tow cost would be $1,000, deputies said. When Barker pulled out his credit card, the tugboat owner explained to him the cost increased to $1,500 because of the amount of time it took to recover the vessel, reports show.
Barker got into an argument with the owner about the price, deputies said. Two witnesses told deputies Barker grabbed the tugboat owner by the collar of his shirt.
Barker pulled out a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the owner’s stomach, reports show. The tugboat owner then agreed to only charge $1,000, deputies said.
A witness showed deputies cell phone footage that captured the incident, reports show. Barker told deputies he pulled out his gun after the tugboat owner shoved him.
Barker denied pointing the firearm at the owner.
Deputies arrested Barker and booked him into the county jail. Barker has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Oct. 6, court records show.
