Clearwater City Official Rams Golf Cart Into Restaurant Tables, Fights With Diner At Oktoberfest Event: Police

CLEARWATER, FL - A Clearwater city official was arrested Saturday at an Oktoberfest celebration after driving a golf cart on the sidewalk and ramming it into tables and potted plants at the Clear Sky restaurant on Cleveland Street. After initially refusing to leave the restaurant, Seth Taylor, the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency director, spotted a restaurant patron recording his actions and grabbed him “around his neck and pulled him from the chair he was sitting on,” an arrest affidavit said.

Witnesses helped break up the altercation with the restaurant patron, and Taylor fled, the affidavit said. Taylor was later located near the restaurant by Clearwater police and arrested.

Taylor, 38, was attending the city's House of Beer Oktoberfest Celebration when he was arrested about 11:40 p.m. Saturday. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail early Sunday morning but was not booked, according to the affidavit. Sgt. Spencer Gross of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said Taylor was not arrested because he was eligible for the Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion Program. Under the program, adults arrested for minor offenses can avoid jail by completing community service, counseling or drug treatment.

Communications Director Joelle Castelli said the city placed Taylor on paid administrative Monday.

Taylor was hired in July 2016 after working with neighborhood revitalization in New York City.

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