Marathon man arrested after umbrella chokehold at Home Depot
A Marathon man was arrested December 5 after deputies say he used an umbrella to choke another shopper inside the Home Depot at 4555 Overseas Highway, following a parking lot dispute. The arrest raises local concerns about shopper safety, store security costs, and demands on law enforcement resources.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ramon Rodriguez, 66, on December 5 after accusing him of choking a 54 year old man with an umbrella inside the Home Depot in Marathon. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office report says the altercation began in the store parking lot just before 8 15 a.m., when the victim told deputies Rodriguez nearly struck him with his truck as he exited the store. The report says the victim pushed a shopping cart into Rodriguez’s truck and the argument continued inside the store between the self checkout stations.
Investigators allege Rodriguez grabbed an umbrella upon entering the store and used it to perform a rear naked choke on the other man, temporarily preventing him from breathing. “Home Depot staff intervened and separated both parties,” MCSO Deputy James Metzger wrote. Deputies say Rodriguez left the store and returned to his construction site, later spoke to them by phone, and then returned to Home Depot where he was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
As of Friday afternoon Rodriguez remained at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Key West jail facility with no listed bond. The charge carries significant criminal exposure and will be handled through the county court system.
Beyond the immediate criminal case, the episode has practical implications for Marathon residents and local businesses. Incidents inside retail locations drive up security and training costs for stores, may affect insurance premiums, and require law enforcement time and investigative resources. For employees and shoppers the case underscores how routine parking lot disputes can escalate into violent confrontations, and how everyday objects can be used as weapons.
Local law enforcement and retailers often respond to such incidents by reviewing staff training and de escalation policies to reduce risk to customers and workers. Residents should be aware of the arrest and the store location involved, and expect that the criminal matter will proceed through the courts in the coming weeks.
