Homeless Man Arrested At Disney After ‘Grabbing’ Officer’s Vest

A homeless man was arrested and banned from Walt Disney World property after he “grabbed the front of” a police officer’s vest and attempted to shove candy down his uniform.

Zachary Coley, 35, was arrested and charged with battery on law enforcement, which is a third-degree felony. He pleaded not guilty earlier this month.

Coley was at Disney Springs, the shopping and dining district located at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where he was “acting erratic” by Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, according to the arrest report, which has been obtained by Walt Disney World News Today.

At first, Disney World first responders were called to the location to escort him off the property and provide medical treatment. But, Coley refused medical attention and then ran toward the nearby STK Steakhouse.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department then responded to the call.

“I approached the subject and made contact with him,” the responding deputy wrote in the arrest report. “I asked if he was OK, to which he replied in an incoherent manner. I informed him that Disney wished to have him officially trespassed and asked if he had an identification with him. I informed him that we would issue him the trespass notice and have him on his way.”

Trespass is a term Walt Disney World often uses to refer to someone being banned from the premises for life.

According to the arrest report, the officer says he talked to Coley about leaving Disney Springs and attempted to escort him out.

Coley then pulled out two bags of candy from his laptop bag, and asked the deputy if he wanted any. The officer refused, and that is when the homeless man shoved the candy down the officer’s body armor.

“After telling Zachary multiple times that I did not want the candy, he attempted to place it on my external body armor. When he observed that the bag would not stay where he was trying to place it, with the candy still in his hand, he grabbed the front of my vest in the area of the neck, abruptly jerked it away from my body and began to shove the candy down the front of the inside of my vest,” the arrest report states.

Coley was arrested and taken to jail.

Kate Santich, the spokesperson for the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, released a statement to WDWNT.

“From the arrest affidavit, the deputy appears to have given Mr. Coley numerous chances to leave with no more than a warning, and I don’t think anyone should expect to be able to grab at a law enforcement officer’s vest, try to pull it off, and attempt to shove an object inside it without facing arrest. Frankly, the deputy seems to have exhibited patience and behaved appropriately,” she stated.

“That said, the report states Mr. Coley was intoxicated and behaving bizarrely, so we don’t know if mental illness is a factor,” Santich continued. “While mental illness does make people more vulnerable to becoming homeless, it’s also true that homelessness is itself a traumatic experience and that some people use alcohol and drugs to numb their bleak reality.”

According to its official website, the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida is “committed to the belief that everyone needs a safe place to call home.”

“I also don’t know what other options there might have been for criminal charges, although on its face a felony seems harsh,” Santich added of Coley’s charges. “However, I also know that many times charges are reduced at a later date.”

The group advocates for the homeless, a growing problem in Central Florida. According to Axios, in the 2023 count, Florida reported 15,482 unsheltered people.

The rate is expected to grow in 2024, which is likely due to the increase in housing in the area and the state’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian, which left much of Florida without homes and businesses.

The coastal storm, which made landfall in September 2022, killed approximately 160 people and caused widespread property damage across the Sunshine State. According to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, parts of Florida, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, are still recovering from the Category 4 storm’s impact.