BUNNELL, Fla. — A New York man is in custody following a violent outburst Wednesday afternoon at a Palm Coast liquor store after a store clerk refused to sell him more alcohol.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies initially responded to Sharps Discount Liquors in Palm Coast shortly after 2 p.m. to investigate a verbal disturbance. While enroute, dispatchers informed deputies that a customer with a large knife in his waistband was standing on top of the counter spitting and throwing glass bottles all over the floor.
When deputies arrived on scene, they located the man — later identified as Jeffrey Kimmel, 38, of Wappingers Falls, New York — still on top of the counter. Due to his erratic state, deputies physically removed Kimmel from the counter and took him outside.
While outside the store, Kimmel — whose hands were still bleeding from his earlier outburst — began resisting deputies by violently kicking, screaming, and spitting. Due to Kimmel actively spitting blood at deputies who were restraining him, deputies placed a spit mask over his head to protect themselves from his bodily fluids.
According to a store employee, Kimmel initially entered the store and purchased four liquor shots, left, and later returned to obtain more liquor. When the clerk refused to sell him more, Kimmel began screaming at her, jumped onto the counter, and started kicking items off the counter. The store employee told deputies that she and the other customers locked themselves in the back room to get away from him.
“This guy must have really wanted another drink, but he found out he’s not in New York, and we won’t tolerate behavior like this in Florida,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This individual’s violent outburst placed innocent people in danger and caused significant damage to a local business. Thanks to the actions of our deputies, he was taken into custody before anyone was seriously hurt. He also found out that Florida is not a catch and release state, and if you attack a Deputy Sheriff, we will subdue you and take you to the Green Roof Inn.”
Deputies arrested Kimmel for misdemeanor breach of peace along with multiple felony charges, burglary, burglary with assault or battery, eight counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and criminal mischief – over $1,000. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $236,000 bond.
Kimmel has a history of burglary, driving under the influence, and possession of stolen property. In this incident, it is estimated that Kimmel caused over $20,000 in damage after hurling dozens of glass bottles of alcohol and several display cases across the floor.
View body camera footage from Kimmel’s arrest.
