Florida Man Arrested for Threatening Behavior at Restaurant

A man in Florida has been apprehended after allegedly walking through a Tampa restaurant with a burning propane tank and wielding a knife when law enforcement attempted to arrest him. This strange incident unfolded around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday when officials from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called to respond to reports of an assault and gunshots at the restaurant.

Upon their arrival, officers discovered the establishment filled with smoke and flames, along with a propane tank on fire outside. Inside, they found 53-year-old Rubiel Maceo Castillo, who was still holding two knives. Officers repeatedly commanded him to drop the weapons and step outside.

“Drop the knife. Do it now,” an officer could be heard yelling in the body camera footage.

By collaborating with personnel from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, the deputies managed to extinguish the fire before taking Castillo into custody. He was subsequently booked into jail and is being held without bail.

According to court documents, Castillo allegedly lunged at various patrons inside the restaurant with the knives, injuring a woman who tried to intervene. Investigators believe he then cut the gas line connected to the grill, seized a propane tank, and set it ablaze.

Surveillance footage shows him wandering through the restaurant with the burning tank as flames spread around him. Body camera recordings further captured the dramatic confrontation between the officers and Castillo, illustrating their efforts to extinguish the blaze before making the arrest.

Charges against Castillo include first-degree arson of an occupied structure, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal mischief leading to over $1,000 in damages. So far, authorities have not disclosed a motive, but reports suggest that the incident may have originated from a domestic dispute involving Castillo and his wife.