Closing time at an Ocala car wash turned chaotic on Sunday night when an 18-year-old worker took down a man who allegedly pulled an ax on him as the business was shutting its doors.
Surveillance video and deputy body-camera footage captured the tense encounter at the Tidal Wave Auto Spa, where the teen tackled and pinned the 36-year-old suspect until law enforcement arrived. Deputies later identified the man as Bryce Thayer, 36, and arrested him at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Marion County deputies say the disturbance broke out around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Tidal Wave Auto Spa on Southwest 95th Street Road. The department later released video of the incident, according to WFTV. When officers arrived, they found Thayer already restrained by the 18-year-old employee, and a subsequent search turned up drug paraphernalia, the outlet reports.
How the takedown unfolded
Surveillance clips included in the sheriff's release show Thayer walking up to the car-wash tunnel and unhooking an ax that was clipped to his backpack before pointing it at one of the workers. The older brother, identified in footage as Leo (Leodan) Pino, 18, told reporters he trains in jiu-jitsu and reacted quickly. He said he tripped Thayer, took him to the ground, and used holds to control him while his younger brother grabbed the ax, according to WESH.
Charges and custody
Marion deputies charged Thayer with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the sheriff's release. Reporting on the case notes, conflicting bond figures. A sheriff's release cited by ClickOrlando lists Thayer's bond at $65,000, while WFTV reports it as $11,000. Thayer remains in the Marion County Jail as deputies forward the case to prosecutors.
Records and background
Jail records reviewed by national outlets show Thayer has multiple prior arrests since May 2024, including earlier drug and trespass-related contacts, local reporting says. His mugshot, distributed by deputies, shows heavy facial bruising that appears consistent with the struggle caught on video, according to Fox News.
Workers' accounts and next steps
Pino told reporters he moved in to protect his co-worker and that he has already enlisted in the U.S. Army, with plans to head to Fort Sill later this year, WESH reports. The sheriff's office has since posted the footage publicly and says deputies will present the investigation to the state attorney for review.
Why it matters
The video underscores how an ordinary end-of-shift cleanup can turn dangerous in seconds and how the split-second decisions of people on the scene can shape what happens next, deputies say. Authorities are reminding residents to call 911 rather than confront anyone armed with a weapon, and the department is urging businesses to secure their properties and contact law enforcement if someone becomes aggressive, reporting shows from WCJB.
