A 75-year-old Gainesville man is facing multiple criminal charges after police say he pepper-sprayed five adults and attempted to grab a four-year-old child during a confrontation inside a Florida pet store. The case was first reported by the Alachua Chronicle, citing an arrest report from the Gainesville Police Department.
Dispute Escalated After Comments to Children
According to the arrest report, officers responded to the Pet Supermarket on Northwest 13th Street at about 7:50 p.m. on July 8 after receiving reports of an assault involving pepper spray.
Police said Marshall Scott Avener approached a family with his dog and asked two children whether they wanted to pet it. When the children did not answer, investigators said Avener followed with another question, asking whether they wanted to “pet the man instead.”
The children’s father told police he considered the remark inappropriate and instructed Avener to leave his family alone. Investigators said the exchange continued after Avener walked away into another part of the store before returning to confront the father three separate times.
According to witnesses, the confrontation reached another point when Avener allegedly reached toward a four-year-old child. The father stopped him and shouted that he could not touch any children.
Pepper Spray Filled Store and Continued Outside
Police said Avener then pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the father in the face near the checkout area. Two store employees standing near the registers were also struck by the spray…