A Florida man who was upset after a furniture delivery he'd been waiting for was late, allegedly pulled a gun on the delivery crew and told them that he'd "shot people for less."
Mitchell Helton, 55, is accused of pointing a gun at the crew while they unloaded furniture Helton ordered from Furniture Warehouse at his house last Saturday, the Bradenton Heald reported. Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office say the delivery men notified Helton they were on their way and when they arrived, found the front door to Helton's house ajar.
The men called out, letting Helton know they had arrived with his order, w ho immediately told them he was upset the delivery crew had taken so long to get there. When the crew asked if he still wanted the furniture, Helton reportedly replied, "Do whatever you want" and went into his home.
The delivery crew was unloading the furniture when Helton reappeared with a gun in his hand and pointed it at both men.
The men attempted to calm Helton down by explaining how he could file a formal complaint with their company over the late delivery, even as they continued to unpack and deliver Helton's order. According to the arrest report, the two delivery drivers didn't seem impressed by the gun, or Helton's anger and "dismissed his action as a shot of anger toward the late delivery."
After the delivery crew left, they called the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, who arrested Helton after he failed to give police a consistent story about why he confronted the two men with a gun. Helton admitted to deputies he'd taken the gun outside to confront the men, but couldn't explain why he did, nor, why he called the company instead of calling 911 if he was fearing for his safety.
Helton has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and was released from the Manatee County Jail on Tuesday after posting a $5,000 bond.
Photo: Manatee County Sheriff's Office