Car Salesman Assaulted By Man, 83, Over Lottery Prize: Sheriff

SARASOTA, FL — A Nissan sales promotion at Sarasota Square Mall took a violent turn Wednesday when authorities say a salesman was attacked by an 83-year-old man upset over a promotional scratch-off ticket prize he thought he'd won.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the incident that led to Linsey D. Owens’ arrest began to unfold around 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28. Deputies say Owens went to the sales event outside the mall’s JCPenney store to claim a prize he thought he won from a Nissan promotional scratch-off ticket.

Nissan salesman Christian Robertson, 48, tried to explain to Owens that he could only claim the prize if he purchased a vehicle, an arrest report stated. When Owens learned the news, he “became irate,” the report said.

Owens reportedly went back to his white Honda and started to leave. Instead of going, however, deputies say he drove down the aisle Robertson was standing in “sped up and swerved at him, causing the mirror to make contact with the victim’s left forearm.”

After allegedly hitting Robertson with his Honda, Owens is accused of getting out of the car, running to his trunk and producing a golf club. The victim, the report said, began filming the encounter on his cellphone at that point. Owens allegedly used the club to hit Robertson on the right side of his face, which knocked the phone out of Robertson’s hand.

Owens then got back into his car and drove off, the report said.

Deputies caught up with Owens at his Sarasota home shortly after the incident. After an interview with authorities, Owens was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Owens remained in the Sarasota County Jail Thursday without bond, according to jail records.

Authorities did not say what prize Owens was trying to collect. The video of the incident has not been released by the sheriff's office.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office