Parking Mobility

An East Naples man admitted to keying a van with a handicap plate because he was angry about a parking space.

Arthur Dale Council, 56, of the 2300 block of Outrigger Lane, East Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies just before 8 p.m. Saturday at Outback Steakhouse at 4910 U.S. 41 North and charged with criminal mischief of $200 to $1,000.

Gary Bladich, 75, called deputies after a witness in the restaurant parking lot told him that he’d seen a man scratch his van with a key. Bladich said he had to double park next to the handicap parking spot because of the mechanism that helps his handicapped wife get out of their van, reports said. He explained that he has a doctor’s prescription that he displays on the van when he has to take up extra space.

When approached by the deputy, Council said he keyed the car out of anger because he felt Bladich was taking advantage of the handicap privilege by taking up the extra parking space, reports said. Council also stated that he knew what he did was wrong.