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TAMPA - Construction company president Bart Azzarelli Jr. was arrested early Tuesday on a battery charge after authorities say he twice backed his car into an airport employee directing traffic.
"He simply wanted to park somewhere he couldn't," said Tampa International Airport spokeswoman Christine Osborn.
At about midnight, Azzarelli, 55, drove his black 2002 Cadillac Escalade onto Red Arrivals Drive, the road leading to one of the pickup areas for arriving flights, Osborn said. Azzarelli's wife was also in the vehicle, according to police. Osborn said Azzarelli pulled into a taxi loading area, and Jim Rodriguez-Rios, a 51-year-old traffic specialist, told him he couldn't park there.
Azzarelli ignored the instruction and drove the car over a traffic cone and into the taxi area, Osborn said. Rodriguez-Rios walked to the back of the Cadillac and started to write a parking ticket. Before he could finish, Azzarelli backed his car into Rodriguez-Rios, striking him two times, Osborn said.
According to the police report, Azzarelli told authorities he "deliberately but slowly backed up twice." Rodriguez-Rios suffered only minor injuries and did not need medical treatment.
Azzarelli is president of the Dallas 1 Construction & Development Inc. in Thonotosassa. He did not return calls to his business and home. "His side of the story is he did absolutely nothing wrong," said his attorney, Rick Terrana.