A delivery driver making stops at Eagles Nest Mobile Home Park says he was threatened at gunpoint and struck in the head by a 78-year-old resident after two men blocked his path on October 14. Arthur William Goerner now faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple battery, though he denies ever having a gun.
Driver Says Goerner Pointed a Glock-Style Handgun and Threatened to Shoot
According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a dispute involving Goerner and the delivery driver on October 14 at Eagles Nest Mobile Home Park on Eagles Nest Road in Fruitland Park. The driver told investigators he was making deliveries when two men blocked his path, and he alleged that Goerner pointed what he described as a Glock-style handgun at him and threatened to shoot him.
The driver also reported that Goerner reached into his vehicle, scratched his arm and struck him in the head, per the same account. Investigators said the driver provided cellphone video of the encounter and signed a sworn affidavit seeking prosecution. According to the arrest report, that video captured the driver asking why a gun was being pointed at him.
Goerner Denies Having a Gun, Says Driver Nearly Hit Him
Goerner gave investigators a very different version of events. He told them he had nearly been struck by the delivery vehicle and denied having a gun, and deputies said he responded that the driver had tried to run him over. According to the report, Goerner claimed the driver may have mistaken his cellphone for a firearm.
Deputies documented a minor laceration on the driver's wrist but said they were unable to locate a firearm and found no surveillance cameras that captured the incident. With the physical evidence limited to the wrist injury and competing accounts from the two men, the case hinges heavily on the driver's cellphone video and sworn statement.
Charges and What Comes Next
Goerner was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and simple battery. Under Florida Statutes § 784.021, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and without intent to kill is a third-degree felony. The simple battery charge falls under Florida Statute 784.03, which defines battery as intentionally touching or striking another person against their will, generally classified as a first-degree misdemeanor.
Jail records show Goerner later bonded out of custody, and the case remains pending in court.
