Last updated at 8:29 a.m.
GIBSONTON, Fla. (WFLA) – A Riverview man is in custody after he drove a golf cart through a Walmart entrance, nearly hitting numerous customers and eventually crashed into a cash register station.
Deputies say they were called to the Gibsonton Walmart located at 9205 Gibsonton Driver around 12:30 p.m. Thursday after 56-year-old Michael Hudson drove his golf cart to the store, blocking the liquor store entrance.
Hudson refused to leave, demanded he talk to a manager but once deputies arrived and started talking to him, Hudson accelerated the golf cart through the store’s main entrance.
Deputies say he nearly hit numerous customers who ran to avoid being hit.
Hudson was ordered to stop numerous times but he continued at a high speed through the store and ended up crashing into a checkout area where several customers were hit.
According to deputies, he was taken to Tampa General Hospital to receive medical treatment. A few customers also received treatment at the store by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue but were not taken to a medical facility.
Hudson is being charged with trespass after warning, resisting arrest without violence, criminal mischief and multiple counts of aggravated battery/aggravated assault with a motor vehicle.
This is the same Walmart that a man threatened to shoot up on Sunday, and was subsequently arrested.
Brandon Daniels says he witnessed Thursday’s golf cart rampage. Living just down the street, and already having his previous shopping trip thwarted by Sunday’s shooting threat, he has his doubts as he pulled up a little after noon.
As he drove up, Daniels says he noticed a blue golf cart parked outside. The man in the golf cart was in some sort of dispute with two deputies.
“It looked like serious commotion because one of the cops looked like she was about to draw,” Daniels said.
As Daniels finished up his shopping, he noticed the blue golf cart barreling through the entrance, shoppers dodging out of its way. The cart crashed and came to a halt near the checkout counters.
“The funny is this I actually made a Facebook post jokingly saying ‘Wish me luck, I’m going to Walmart today’ and then that happens,” he said.
Between Sunday’s threat and Thursday’s golf cart crash, Daniels is reconsidering future shopping at this particular store.
“Told my wife I’m probably going to Target from now on, that’s for sure,” he laughed.