Man arrested after spat with neighbor about peanut shells discarded by squirrels

Criminal News

A 57-year-old Florida man has been arrested after he assaulted his neighbor for feeding the squirrels in their neighborhood. An Indian River County Sheriff's deputy arrested Eugene Oates after the spat over peanut shells discarded by the squirrels.

A deputy went to an address in Vero Beach where he met a woman and a man. The woman said Oates, who lives nearby, came to the porch door steps of their trailer.

The woman called for the man, saying she didn't wish to speak with Oates because Oates "had an issue with them feeding squirrels peanuts and the squirrels would deposit the peanut shells on the defendant's (Oates') lawn and driveway, which the defendant (Oates) did not approve of," an affidavit states.

Meanwhile, the man said Oates grabbed his arm and tried to pull him outside, leaving two scratches. Deputies arrested Oates in on a battery charge. He was later released from the Indian River County Jail on $500 bond.