[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 03/16/20]
CLERMONT, Florida — A fight over a cigarette at Starbucks landed a 73-year-old Pennsylvania man in jail Saturday.
A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Starbucks, 628 Cagan View Road, Clermont in reference to an assault and battery, Friday afternoon. Ronald Klipple, 73, told a deputy he and his wife were sitting outside when he noticed a man was smoking a cigarette.
Klipple began a verbal altercation over the cigarette and told the man he wanted it put out, according to an arrest affidavit. Klipple and the victim — who is over 65 years old — engaged in a heated exchange until Klipple “aggressively” approached the victim and grabbed the hand holding the cigarette. Klipple threw the cigarette over an iron fence and the victim threw his drink on Klipple.
Klipple was charged with battery on a person over 65 and transported to the LCSO South Lake District Office. He was released on $2,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
