Peaceful afternoon at a church took a violent turn when a dispute over a handicapped parking space led to an all-out attack

A Florida man was recently arrested after an argument over a handicapped parking space at a church led to him beating a woman, according to law enforcement in the Sunshine State.

John Phillips, 65, stands accused of one count each of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and elder abuse, as well as two counts of false imprisonment, Orange County court records show.

The defendant was arrested on Feb. 10, after a lengthy investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred on Sept. 25, 2024, just outside the St. John Vianney Catholic Church on South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.

The victim was at the church to get her 5-year-old niece, according to the charging affidavit – which credits multiple witness statements along with surveillance footage. With the victim was her disabled mother, the little girl’s grandmother, who needed help picking up the child after school. As the trio prepared to leave, however, they were blocked from leaving the parking spot by a large black truck.

The woman noticed a man inside the truck waving a handicap sticker around, the affidavit says. The victim told investigators she responded in kind by showing off her mother’s handicap placard.

But the man was allegedly not satisfied.

As the man got out of his truck, she moved to intercept him so he would not be near her niece and elderly mother, the victim told investigators. The man began yelling that the woman’s handicap placard did not actually belong to her or the car she was in, the affidavit says. When the woman tried to reason with the man, he next allegedly insisted he had seen her get out of a different car.

“[The victim] stated she tried to explain they are not associated with the car parked next to them and they came in this car and were trying to leave,” the affidavit reads. “She further stated the male told them he is not letting them leave and he is involving security. [The victim] stated she told him, ‘What are you a dumbass.’ And the male rushed her, yelling, ‘who are you calling a dumbass!’ and then slammed the car door into her.”

Things took a quick turn from there.

The woman shoved the man to keep him away from her family, the affidavit says. He allegedly responded by punching her in the face.

“She stated she got up to defend herself and punched the male, who then overpowered her and grabbed her by the collar and threw her to the ground,” the court document goes on.

Then, the victim’s disabled mother tried to intervene, according to the sheriff’s office. The elderly woman, who described the man as “around her age,” tried to get in between him and her daughter. Then, he grabbed the older woman by the arms and pushed her, the affidavit alleges.

A detective offered an alleged summary of events:

Video surveillance footage shows John Phillips pull in front of the [the older woman’s] parked vehicle with her daughter and granddaughter inside, blocking them from being able to pull out and drive away in any direction. The video clearly shows John Phillips walk up and push the car door into [the younger woman]. The video shows him strike her down again after she pushes him back and then shove her to the ground when after she got up. The video shows John Phillips grab [the older woman’s] arms and push her while she was trying to separate him from his daughter.

Eventually, church staff intervened and the incident ended.

Both women suffered bruising, according to the affidavit. The family also said they were forced to take the 5-year-old girl out of school.

Phillips is slated to appear in court for an arraignment on Feb. 17.