A 32-year-old resident of The Villages was arrested Wednesday after he reportedly showed up at his workplace on his day off and battered a co-worker over a group text dispute.
Benjamin Oscar Perez, who lives on Purslane Place in the. Bougainvillea Villas in the Village of Fenney area, turned himself in to the Wildwood Police Department and is facing a misdemeanor charge of battery.
According to the arrest report, the incident unfolded Wednesday morning at the 7-Eleven located at Magnolia Plaza. Police were called to the scene at 10:14 a.m. after receiving reports of a battery.
Witnesses told officers that Perez, who was off duty, arrived at the gas station upset over a text message the victim had sent in a workplace group chat. The victim had reportedly called Perez out for leaving garbage behind during his shift. The text exchange quickly devolved into the two men calling each other derogatory names, culminating with the victim texting Perez: “You can meet me after work, and we’ll find out just how much of a [expletive] I am.”…