Authorities say a neighborhood dispute over door-to-door soliciting in Leesburg escalated into a truck-on-van showdown that ended with a homeowners association officer in handcuffs.
Gerald E. Tucker, 71, vice president of a Leesburg homeowners association, was arrested after deputies say he chased down a home-improvement crew on June 29 and rammed their company van with his Ford F-150. Five people were inside the van at the time, and one canvasser told deputies the vehicle’s door collapsed against his arm during the collision. Tucker was arrested on July 17 on five counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and released the next day on a $10,000 bond.
What deputies say
According to investigators, the run-in started after a canvasser knocked on a home, then left when the resident told them to move along. The canvasser called coworkers to pick him up, according to WFTV.
In a probable-cause affidavit, deputies wrote that Tucker pursued the workers, followed the company van into a cul-de-sac, then swung his truck diagonally across the road to block them in. As the workers tried to drive away, Tucker accelerated his F-150 into the side of the van, investigators said.
Canvassers' account and aftermath
The crew, a manager and four canvassers, told deputies the manager had driven back to pick up the canvasser when he saw the homeowner chasing the van down the street in his truck, investigators wrote. One canvasser reported being injured, and all five workers submitted sworn statements asking that Tucker be prosecuted, according to ClickOrlando.
Charges and what they mean
Tucker was booked on five counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff’s affidavit and local reporting. Under Florida law, aggravated battery involving a deadly weapon is defined in Section 784.045 and is generally classified as a second-degree felony that can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Certain circumstances can alter the potential penalties, according to the Florida statutes.
Footage and next steps
Video from the neighborhood confrontation appeared in coverage by FOX 35 Orlando, and deputies say cellphone footage backs up the canvassers’ version of events. The case remains under investigation as prosecutors review the sworn statements and the affidavit.
Authorities have not released additional details about any upcoming court dates. This story will be updated as new filings and hearing schedules become public.
