At least two victims were over the age of 65, according to an arrest affidavit
Volusia County Division of Corrections
NEED TO KNOW
- A husband and wife were arrested after allegedly starting a fight at a county club that left people injured
- Anthony Sapienza and Julianne Sapienza were playing pickleball with another couple when things got “heated” at their Florida country club, according to an arrest affidavit viewed by PEOPLE
- Verbal altercations during the match allegedly led to a physical fight
A Florida couple was arrested after police say a game of pickleball turned into a huge brawl.
Anthony Sapienza, 63, and his wife Julianne Sapienza, 51, were arrested following an incident at Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange, according to an online arrest affidavit filed by the Volusia Sheriff's Office and viewed by PEOPLE.
Deputies were dispatched to the country club just after 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 8, in relation to “a physical fight in progress on the pickleball court” that involved “over 20 individuals.”
Following reports of physical injuries, fire and rescue was also called to the scene.
The game between the Sapienzas and another couple got “heated” when Anthony accused the opposing players of stepping into the "kitchen," a 7-foot by 20-foot restricted area intended to prevent aggressive, close-range net smashing, per the affidavit.
Verbal insults were allegedly exchanged, and after the match ended and the other couple was walking away, the affidavit alleges that Anthony yelled, "Your wife is a c—."
The husband allegedly told Anthony not to speak to his wife that way before "Anthony then approached him and punched him on the left side of the face and struck him with a pickleball paddle, causing significant bleeding," police allege in the affidavit.
After noticing a laceration above the victim’s left eye, EMS transported the victim to AdventHealth Hospital for treatment.
Anthony is also accused of “forcefully” pushing the victim’s wife to the ground when she allegedly attempted to help her husband. A third individual, who is 70 years old, claimed to have tried to break up the fight, alleging that while doing this Anthony punched him in the face, “causing his nose to bleed profusely.”
The individual told police he wanted to press charges against Anthony and Julianne.
A witness told police she called 911 after allegedly seeing Anthony punch the other husband and hit him with a pickleball paddle as both men fell, per the affidavit.
Anthony and Julianne are accused of fleeing the scene before later being arrested, the affidavit alleges.
Julianne was arrested on a charge of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older. Anthony was arrested on two counts of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older, and aggravated battery causing bodily harm.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Assistant State Attorney Danielle Fields alleged in charging documents that Anthony "intentionally" caused bodily harm to the victim, and used the pickleball paddle as a deadly weapon.
A hearing in the case is scheduled for March 3.
PEOPLE reached out to the Spruce Creek Country Club for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Attorneys for the Sapienzas did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Read the full article here
