A 25-year-old man is accused of slamming a gas station employee to the ground after he was told he couldn't cut the line of vehicles waiting to gas up at a gas station in Ocala, police said.

  • 25-year-old man accused of getting into fight
  • Fight ensued after he reportedly skipped line at gas station
  • At least 2 witnesses recorded the fight on their cellphones

The Ocala Police Department stated it received numerous 911 calls about a fight that occurred at the gas pumps of Diamond Oil on Northeast 16th Avenue.

According to a police report, Rashad V. Johnson arrived at the gas pumps with a female driver, identified as Brittney Newton. The driver is accused of cutting the post-hurricane waiting line that was being organized by a Diamond Oil employee. The employee approached Johnson and Newton and instructed them to either move to the back of the line or leave, police said.

Johnson ignored the employee and began pumping gas while Newton went inside.

After Johnson continued to ignore demands, police said the employee removed the gas handle from the vehicle and inadvertently spilled fuel on Johnson.

Johnson then reportedly grabbed the employee and lifted him off the ground by about 6 inches to 1 foot, witnesses said. He then "forcefully slammed him against the vehicle, causing him to fall to the ground," police said.

Johnson claimed the victim purposefully sprayed gasoline on him, but all witnesses advised it was not intentional.

Two witnesses took cellphone video of the incident. Police said witness statements given at the scene aligned.

Johnson was arrested on charges of battery on a person over 65 years old. He was transported to the Marion County Jail.