A 71-year-old man is facing felony charges after deputies say a tense run-in in a Publix parking lot in the Country Walk area of southwest Miami-Dade turned into a pepper-spray blast that hit three people on Wednesday afternoon.
The clash unfolded just before 3:30 p.m., when, according to deputies, the driver accelerated his vehicle toward a man who was crossing the lot to grab a shopping cart. A verbal dispute followed, and authorities say it escalated fast.
Deputies later tracked the suspect down near the store, took him into custody, and called in medical crews to respond to the scene.
What deputies say happened
According to Local 10, deputies identified the driver as Julio Rodriguez, 71. Investigators say Rodriguez reached into the center console of his vehicle, pulled out a bottle of pepper spray, got out of the car and sprayed the man, the man’s wife, and another bystander.
The victim snapped a photo of the car’s license plate, which deputies say helped them quickly locate Rodriguez nearby and arrest him without further incident.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported Rodriguez to Jackson South Medical Center before he was booked into jail. Jail records show he faces one count of aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older and two counts of battery.
The charges and what they mean
Jail records list one aggravated battery charge involving a victim aged 65 or older, along with two counts of battery.
Under Florida law, a conviction for aggravated battery on a person 65 or older carries a mandatory minimum prison term of three years and can reclassify offenses into higher-degree felonies, with fines and required restitution for victims, according to Fla. Stat. §784.08.
Parking-lot confrontations in the county
The Publix clash is not the only recent parking-lot dust-up in southwest Miami-Dade involving pepper spray.
As Local 10 reported earlier this year, deputies were called out to another case in which a suspect allegedly pepper-sprayed family members and responding officers. Incidents like these highlight how quickly arguments over everyday errands can end with criminal charges and emergency response.
What investigators are asking now
Authorities have not released additional details about a possible motive in the Publix case. Rodriguez remains in custody at a county facility, with his bond listed as “to be set.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 305-SHERIFF (305-743-7433) or visit the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office contact page for more details.
