A visit to Disney World took a grim turn for one Florida man who wound up in handcuffs after his insensitive jeers at a woman with Down Syndrome ignited a fiery clash with her family.
Brent George, 61, faced the consequences of his actions with an arrest and four counts of first-degree battery charges laid against him following the events that unfolded on the night of January 25. His arrest was sparked by a fight that erupted at Belle Vue Lounge, a bar inside Disney's Boardwalk Inn.
A night of presumed fun turned into a scene of turmoil after Brent allegedly taunted a wheelchair-bound woman with Down Syndrome, whose identity was not revealed in the arrest affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was also reported that Brent’s wife and his two friends were drinking at the bar with him before the accused man started the fight with the family at the nearby table.
Police officers had arrived at the scene to find Brent with bruises and wounds on his face on the night of the altercation. The Ohio native claimed he had been “struck by a glass cup” during the fight inside the eatery.
Brent told officers that he couldn’t recollect specific details about what led to him being assaulted. He said he had downed three shots of bourbon and some beer at the bar before the tussle with the family.
“He stated he was having a ‘good time’ with the individuals and then he was attacked by them,” read the affidavit, as quoted by the Daily Beast.
Brent George, 61, allegedly taunted a wheelchair-bound woman with Down Syndrome at the bar in Disney World
Image credits: Amy Humphries/Unsplash
The man’s statement was backed by one of his friends, identified as Ward Weber, who claimed to the police that Brent had approached the family “because they were ‘having fun.’”
The police were also told by Ward that he had witnessed the glass cup being thrown at Brent. As per the affidavit, the friend claimed he had overheard someone at the nearby table saying “they wanted to kill him” and that Brent acted in self-defense.
However, cops did not find a glass cup at the scene that matched the story Brent and his friend provided to the cops.
When the police spoke to the family of the woman with Down Syndrome, they were told a completely different story that led to Brent’s arrest.
Seated at the family’s table at the time was Wesley Goldberg, who told the cops that the altercation began after an intoxicated Brent approached them and targeted his sister with Down Syndrome.
Brent's friend claimed to cops that he acted in self-defense, but the family of the woman with Down Syndrome provided a completely different story
Image credits: Orange County Corrections Department
Brent allegedly mocked her by "imitating" her grunts, Wesley told the officers, according to the affidavit.
“Wesley stated verbally and in a sworn written statement that Brent came near their table and started to make fun of his handicapped sister by imitating the grunts that she occasionally made,” the affidavit said.
The family was taken aback by Brent’s insensitive display of thoughtlessness, prompting their mother, Candace Goldberg, to stand up for her daughter.
When Candace asked Brent if he was making fun of her daughter, the 61-year-old man got up and shoved the mother twice. The situation quickly escalated, with Wesley’s wife, Maria Ayalde, trying to intervene. Brent then allegedly slapped Maria for trying to quell the situation, which led to Wesley getting involved in a physical tussle with Brent.
"After slapping Maria, her husband Wesley got involved," the affidavit said. "Wesley was punched on the left side of his neck, and proceeded to punch Brent on the side of his head, resulting in the injury Brent sustained."
The two exchanged blows before “an unnamed bystander” wrapped their arms around Brent in a bear hug and removed the 61-year-old man from the scene.
The brother of the woman with Down Syndrome exchanged blows with Brent after the fight escalated
Image credits: Disney World
Following the investigation, the police noted in the affidavit that there was no broken glass found in the area. “It is believed no glass cup was utilized in this incident,” the affidavit added.
The night ended with Brent being handcuffed and arrested without further incident. After Brent was taken to the local jail, he spent the night behind bars until his wife paid his $4,000 bond the next day for his release.
Brent pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. It is unclear when further proceedings in the case will take place.
Several people online believed Brent deserved what he got for his insensitive attitude towards the woman with Down Syndrome.
“Well he deserved it that’s for sure. Good job whoever taught him a lesson,” one wrote on social media, while another quipped, “Thats all he got KARMA will take of him.”
“My heart goes out to that person he made fun of,” another wrote. “He needs to get community service working with people with special needs…”
Social media users agreed it was awful to see the child being mocked and the family members being assaulted
