PORT ST. LUCIE — A 46-year-old man who objected to how a Waste Pro worker handled his neighbor’s recycling bins was arrested after reportedly spitting on the worker and threatening him with a shovel, according to a police report released Monday.

Donald G. Smith, of the 6800 block of Northwest Abadan Street, faces battery and assault charges in connection with the Saturday morning incidents that could be described as recycling bin rage.

The Waste Pro worker told investigators he emptied the bins of Smith’s neighbor and threw them back in the swale. He said Smith took issue with his bin handling, quoting Smith as saying, “You don’t throw people’s (expletive) like that in the street.”

The victim said there was no reason for Smith to speak to him that way and started driving off.

That’s when Smith, the victim said, ran up and spit through the driver’s window on the victim and the window. The victim said Smith also grabbed a shovel and threatened him.

Smith acknowledged getting upset and yelling at the victim. He said the victim swore at him and used a racial epithet, prompting Smith to expectorate on the victim. Smith said he grabbed the shovel because the victim approached his yard.

A witness said he heard the victim yell, “I’ll be back to get you (expletive),” the report states.

Bu WILL Greenlee TCPalm.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am and is filed under Crime, Port St. Lucie, Weird News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.