“Arrest me!” a drunk British tourist yelled multiple times to an Orlando police officer at Universal’s Volcano Bay.
And so the police officer obliged him.
It’s the latest example of a theme park guest behaving badly as James Stuart Evans, a 37-year-old from Bristol, England, was arrested February 4. Evans was also accused of injuring the police officer.
Here’s how it all started, according to the arrest affidavit:
Evans was disorderly, intoxicated, and causing a loud disturbance at the water park, so Universal wanted him to leave, the arrest affidavit said. Evans was acting out in front of guests who watched the scene unfold.
An Orlando police officer was escorting him out of the park while Evans kept shouting, “Arrest me!”
“Officer Rivera then verbally told him that he was under arrest,” the arrest affidavit said.
Evans fought back, according to the report.
“Officer Rivera grabbed Evans’ left arm and he pulled away from Officer Rivera’s grip. Officer Rivera reached over Evans’ right shoulder in an attempt to escort Evans to the ground. Evans pushed Officer Rivera’s right arm away, causing injury to Officer Rivera’s right arm. Officer Rivera reached for Evans’ legs, grabbed them, and he caused Evans to lose his balance and fall to the ground,” the arrest affidavit said. “While on the ground, Officer Rivera was attempting to secure Evans with handcuffs, however Evans was resisting and obstructing Officer Rivera’s efforts to place him under arrest by moving his arms away from Officer Rivera’s grasps. After a short while, Officer Rivera was able to secure Evans with handcuffs.”
Officer Rivera was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. An update on the officer’s status was not immediately available this week.
Evans was also taken to the hospital after he complained about pain in his right knee but he was treated and immediately discharged. Then he went to jail.
Evans has pleaded not guilty, according to Orange Circuit Court records.
His attorney, Bryce Fetter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What do you think is causing this uptick in guests behaving badly? Let us know in the comments.
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Bob chapek is up to his old tricks again :/ needs to lay off the tequila
Alcohol is fine but with limits. There must be a limit placed or those that can’t monitor themselves will be the next story.
Well he asked for it. And he got it.
I don’t know what’s causing it, but we just returned from 7 days at Disney world and guests are a nightmare. Line cutting and “place holding” is out of control. The drinking at epcot makes it an adult only event after dark – a drunk guy in line behind us kept telling his friends he was going to “p**s in the boat”. We got out line. It’s not so magical anymore.
Whats causing the uptick? Read your own article title lol. ALCOHOL! Ive always been a believer of limiting how many drinks someone should have in a park. Adults get a band, they have to scan the band to monitor what number of drink it is, and if its too much within an hour, drink denied. Just a thought.