A Sarasota parking employee was writing two tickets when a driver pulled up behind her city vehicle and shouted for her to move.
The employee pulled aside to let the woman pass. Then she followed her into a nearby parking lot to photograph the driver’s license plate and report harassment, according to a probable-cause affidavit described by ABC7.
Another argument began when the woman got out of her car. Police say she grabbed the badge hanging from the employee’s neck and forcefully pulled her.
Anita Grace Valdez, 61, of Bradenton, was arrested September 2 on a felony battery charge after the confrontation on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida.
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Valdez denied initiating physical contact, FOX 13 reported. She told police she may have grabbed the lanyard to read the employee’s name because the ID card had flipped over.
The employee later reported neck and stomach pain; no injuries were visible.
Florida’s battery law expressly includes parking enforcement specialists among the personnel covered by enhanced penalties. Knowingly committing battery against a covered specialist performing official duties is reclassified from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
After the encounter, parking staff met with Sarasota Police to discuss safety and available support, FOX 13 reported.
Valdez was booked into Sarasota County Jail and later released on supervised pretrial release, ABC7 reported, citing jail records.