INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 43-year-old man who deputies said yelled “white power” at families in a Publix store parking lot, was detained Thursday.
Evan Gerard Esposito
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies arrested Evan Gerard Esposito, of the 400 block of 27th Drive, Vero Beach, on a charge of disorderly intoxication. Esposito was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
Indian River County deputies responded to reports of a disturbance about 6 p.m. Thursday at the Publix Supermarket at 12th Street Plaza, 1255 U.S. 1. Dispatchers advised deputies a man, identified as Esposito, was yelling racial slurs while riding his bicycle in front of the store.
Deputies arrived and spotted Esposito lying on the ground next to a yellow truck, reports show. Deputies said Esposito smelled of alcohol, had a slurred speech and could not keep his balance.
A witness told deputies Esposito was running around the parking lot earlier screaming “white power.” Esposito yelled at random people, calling them names and saying, “(expletive) your mama (expletive),” reports show.
Deputies arrested Esposito and took him to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital for a medical evaluation. Esposito became combative at the hospital and yelled “white power” in the presence of patients and staff, reports show.
After being cleared from the hospital, Esposito was booked into the county jail. Esposito has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. March 3, court records show.
