Man, 72, allegedly blocked traffic waiting for parking space

BONITA BEACH, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a 72-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested for blocking traffic and refusing to move his van as he waited for a parking space.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office said Carmen James Torockio was blocking the entrance to Bonita Beach Park Monday while waiting for another motorist to vacate a parking space, WZVN-TV, Fort Myers, Fla., reported Wednesday.

The sheriff's office report said a deputy approached Torockio's van and told him he would have to move because he was causing traffic backups by preventing any other vehicles from entering the park.

However, Torockio allegedly told the deputy he had been driving around for 45 minutes looking for parking and he would not move until the spot he wanted was empty.

The deputy told the man he was being ordered to move his vehicle, but Torockio allegedly refused again and rolled up his window.

Torockio then pulled into his intended space as the other motorist left.

The deputy approached Torockio's van and told him he was being arrested.

"I am not! Don't you have anything better to do?" the suspect allegedly replied.

Torockio, who allegedly refused to put his arms behind his back and tried to pull away from the deputy, was arrested on charges of resisting an officer without violence, failure to obey police and violation of county park rules.