An 81-year-old man from Southwest Florida had to get five stitches in his lip after he was punched in an apparent road-rage incident.
It happened in front of the Home Depot on in North Fort Myers on Saturday.
David Wachtel, 51, is charged with battery on a person 65 or older.
The victim, Roland Lizotte, 81, said he was making a turn out of the plaza when he stopped to let another car in front of him. He said a few seconds later, Wachtel's car hit the back of his. When Lizotte got out of his car, he said Wachtel punched him in the mouth with both fists.
"He came right up in my face and just took his two hands, put his two fists together, and just drove my head into the window of my door of my car," Lizotte said.
He said Wachtel was angry, vulgar and out of control.
Lizotte told WFTX-TV the first words out of his mouth were, "What's wrong with you? I'm 81 years old!"
Two witnesses saw the ordeal and provided statements to Lee County deputies.
"I haven't been able to sleep with the thoughts of what happened, thinking, "Why did it happen to me? I didn't do anything. I didn't deserve this," Lizotte said.
Lizotte said he doesn't hold a grudge against this man and just hopes he gets help with his anger.
"I like to think of myself as a romantic rather than a fighter," Lizotte said.
