Charlotte County Man Arrested After Deputies Say He Attacked Bicyclist

A 43-year-old man was arrested in Charlotte County after deputies said he knocked a bicyclist to the ground and threatened to kill him near Pellam Boulevard and Cochran Boulevard, according to an arrest report from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

The Confrontation at Pellam and Cochran Boulevards

The victim told deputies that he was riding his bicycle when he saw an unknown man walking toward him, according to gulfcoastnewsnow.com. The victim reported that he pulled over on his bike to avoid hitting the walker, but the man struck him anyway. Gulfcoastnewsnow.com reported that the attacker stood over the victim on the ground and said, I will kill you, prompting the victim to search for his pepper spray and use it.

An independent witness told the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office a similar account, stating she saw the victim riding his bicycle when Zubrycky pushed him off, according to swfl.io. The witness reported seeing the victim pull out pepper spray, though she could not confirm whether he actually used it.

Zubrycky Denies Battery Charges After Arrest

When deputies questioned Zubrycky, he gave a contrasting version of the encounter. According to swfl.io, Zubrycky claimed that the victim drove his bicycle directly into him and knocked him down. Zubrycky also alleged that the victim pulled out a knife and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray.

Despite Zubrycky’s claims regarding a knife and being struck by the bicycle, deputies arrested him at the scene. He was booked on a felony charge of battery on a person 65 years or older.

Pending Court Proceedings and Unanswered Questions

Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding Zubrycky’s upcoming court appearance or whether investigators recovered a knife at the scene matching Zubrycky’s statement to deputies. Official statements from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office have not detailed any prior interactions between the two men.