Elderly Man’s Neck Broken in Confrontation With Orlando Police Officer Over Illegally Parked Car

Daniel J. Daley, 84, is in critical condition after an Orlando police officer broke his neck in a confrontation on the street where the officer threw him to the ground. Witnesses say that the World War II veteran merely touched the officer during an argument over the towing of his car while the officer describes it as being “struck.”

There had long been a disagreement over the use of parking spaces in front of a grocery store by bar customers. Daley is described as having had a couple drinks but not drunk.

Bar owner Tim Scott said Daley merely touched the unidentified police officer one to three times in a non-threatening fashion. He said the officer responded hip-checking the elderly man and throwing him bodily on the ground.

Another witness said the officer “body-slammed” Daley to the ground after the elderly man put his hands on the officer’s shoulders.

The police department is supporting the officer — saying that he was drunk and belligerent.

Daley, who served in both World War II and the Vietnam War, had never been arrested before this incident.

Source: Palm Beach