Coconut Creek, FL – A Florida man was arrested on October 3 after allegedly striking a pregnant woman with his car during a dispute over a parking space at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Coconut Creek, just 15 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale. The incident has raised questions about parking lot etiquette and the lengths some may go to defend their spot.
Parking Dispute Turns Violent
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the victim, a pregnant woman, was standing in a parking spot outside the restaurant while her husband went to retrieve their car. She had reportedly placed some items in the car and was holding the spot for her husband to pull into it. The situation escalated when 45-year-old Brian Papula, the defendant, approached the spot in his car.
The affidavit states that the victim told Papula she was saving the spot for her husband. However, Papula allegedly shook his head and proceeded to pull forward. The move was reportedly aggressive, as the car struck the woman’s knee, causing her to lose her balance and her shoe.
The affidavit described the victim’s fear in the moment, saying, “She stated if she did not move, she would have been run over.” Despite this, the woman did not require medical attention at the scene, as paramedics determined no hospital visit was needed.
The Defendant’s Account
Papula allegedly told police he was moving his car “at a slow speed” when the incident occurred. When the woman informed him that she was saving the spot, Papula reportedly replied, “You can’t save spots,” before continuing to park his vehicle and entering the restaurant. Papula denied hitting the woman with his car, claiming that he was simply in a rush and did not intend to strike her…