Man with an axe reportedly threatens car wash staff in Florida, but one victim fights back fiercely.

Ax-Wielding Threat in Florida Ends with Quick Action from Victim

A man armed with an axe allegedly threatened two car wash employees in Ocala, Florida, last week, but things took a sudden turn when one of the victims fought back.

Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the Tidal Wave Auto Spa on 95th Avenue S.W. on March 8 around 8:30 p.m. due to a reported disturbance, as officials noted.

When officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old victim pinning down 36-year-old Bryce Thayer.

Investigations revealed Thayer confronted the two employees at the car wash just before closing. After being asked to leave, he became furious and approached them with the axe raised.

In the heat of the moment, the 18-year-old lunged at Thayer to disarm him, successfully managing to push him to the ground. Another employee then retrieved the axe from Thayer’s grip, and together they restrained him until police arrived.

Leodan Pino, the 18-year-old involved, recounted the intense situation to local news. “I heard screaming and someone yelling… and I panicked a bit. I was thinking, ‘Where’s my wife? I can’t find her.’” In a split second, he decided he had to act. “I timed it well; when he lowered the axe, that’s when I took him down and controlled the situation,” Pino recalled.

According to reports, one of the car wash employees, likely Pino himself, also threw a few punches at Thayer to disorient him.

Thayer was arrested at the scene, and police discovered he had drug paraphernalia, including what appeared to be a meth pipe. He now faces charges for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia.