The 5 Most Bizarre 'Florida Man' Incidents That Happened On May 15th

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Every day on the calendar has its own claim to infamy in the annals of Florida's bizarre crime blotter, but May 15th consistently delivers some of the most unusual and headline-grabbing antics. The sheer volume of strange incidents reported on this date, spanning from petty food-related misdemeanors to serious domestic disputes, solidifies May 15th as a truly exceptional day for the 'Florida Man' phenomenon. This compilation, updated for the current date of December 20, 2025, dives into the freshest and most memorable May 15th stories, highlighting why the Sunshine State remains the undisputed champion of the absurd.

From the recent 2024 arrests involving convenience store snacks to a classic 2019 case of culinary-based assault, these stories perfectly encapsulate the topical authority of the 'Florida Man' meme. These incidents are not just isolated events; they are a bizarre reflection of the state's unique public records laws and its colorful, often chaotic, population.

The May 15th Hall of Infamy: Five Unforgettable Incidents

The following list details the most bizarre and newsworthy 'Florida Man' incidents reported on May 15th across various years and counties, showcasing a remarkable pattern of poor decision-making and strange circumstances.

1. The 2024 Pizza Bite-and-Run at RaceTrac

One of the most recent and quintessentially 'Florida Man' stories occurred on May 15, 2024, in Flagler County. This incident involved a 62-year-old man named Ronald Broaddus who took the concept of a free sample to a criminal extreme.

  • The Crime: Petit Theft.
  • The Location: A RaceTrac gas station in Palm Coast, located on SR-100.
  • The Incident: Broaddus allegedly took a slice of pizza from the hot food counter, took a single bite, and then refused to pay for the item. When confronted by store employees, he reportedly became belligerent and threatened them before leaving the premises.
  • The Outcome: He was later arrested and charged with petit theft, a misdemeanor under Florida Statutes § 812.014. This case highlights the severity with which even minor retail theft is treated in the state, especially when coupled with threats.

This incident is a perfect example of the viral nature of the 'Florida Man' meme, where a small, bizarre act of thievery involving convenience store food becomes national news.

2. The 'Stank Chicken' Wing Stop Family Feud (2024)

Also on May 15, 2024, a highly volatile domestic dispute escalated in South Florida, specifically in Coral Springs. The argument centered around an order of chicken from the popular chain Wing Stop.

  • The Crime: Assault and Domestic Violence.
  • The Location: A Wing Stop restaurant in Coral Springs, Broward County.
  • The Incident: A man was arrested after allegedly assaulting his own mother during a heated argument over the quality of their Wing Stop order. The dispute reportedly began because the man claimed the chicken "stank" or was otherwise unsatisfactory. The situation quickly devolved into a physical altercation, leading to his arrest.
  • Topical Authority Entities: Coral Springs Police Department, Broward County, domestic battery, aggravated assault, Wing Stop.

The combination of a fast-food dispute and a crime of passion is a common trope in 'Florida Man' headlines, often making cases from Broward County and other major metropolitan areas particularly memorable.

3. The Infamous Cheeseburger Assault Weapon (2019)

While not the freshest news, no May 15th retrospective is complete without mentioning the bizarre 2019 incident involving a cheeseburger. This story is often cited as a classic example of the 'Florida Man' phenomenon, demonstrating the unusual weapons of choice in the Sunshine State.

  • The Man: Kyle Jamison Jones.
  • The Location: Martin County, Florida.
  • The Incident: Jones was arrested after he allegedly attacked his live-in girlfriend by slapping her with a cheeseburger. The incident began as a verbal argument that escalated when Jones chose the fast-food item as his weapon.
  • The Charge: Domestic battery. The Martin County Sheriff's Office handled the arrest, which quickly went viral due to the absurdity of the weapon.

This event cemented May 15th as a date associated with food-related criminal acts, a strange sub-genre of bizarre Florida crimes that includes everything from throwing burritos to stealing shrimp.

4. The 60-Year Non-Citizen Shock (2024)

In a less criminal but equally strange story published on May 15, 2024, a Florida man in Pinellas County discovered a shocking truth about his own identity after living in the state for decades.

  • The Location: Clearwater, Pinellas County.
  • The Incident: After living in the United States for over 60 years, a man discovered that he was not, in fact, a U.S. citizen. The discovery, often related to bureaucratic errors or old family paperwork, brought his entire legal status into question.
  • The Context: This story, while not an arrest, adds to the May 15th narrative of unexpected drama and personal upheaval, highlighting the complex legal and immigration issues that often intersect with the lives of Florida residents.

The absurdity of living a full life only to have your citizenship status questioned is a uniquely Floridian brand of existential shock, far removed from the typical Pasco County or Broward County petty crime.

5. The Million-Dollar Fraud Sentencing (2024)

While often overshadowed by the cheeseburger and pizza antics, May 15th also marks significant dates for more serious financial crimes. In a recent development, a woman involved in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud was scheduled to be sentenced on May 15, 2024, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

  • The Crime: Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme, Mail Fraud.
  • The Date Significance: May 15th serves as a key date for sentencing and plea deals in complex white-collar crime cases in Florida's federal courts. For example, a man pleaded guilty to mail fraud on May 15, 2014, in a separate case involving defrauding investors.
  • The Entity Relevance: U.S. District Court, FBI, mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud. These cases provide a crucial counterpoint to the meme, reminding readers that 'Florida Man' news encompasses a wide range of criminal defense and legal matters, not just the bizarre and comical.

Why Does May 15th Produce Such Bizarre Headlines?

The 'Florida Man' meme is fueled by a confluence of factors, all of which seem to peak around certain dates like May 15th. The primary driver is Florida's unusually broad public records law. Unlike most states, Florida’s Sunshine Law makes almost all police reports and arrest affidavits immediately available to the public and the media. This transparency means that every bizarre, petty, or unusual crime—like a man taking a bite of pizza or using a cheeseburger as a weapon—gets reported, while similar incidents in other states might only be filed away as local police business.

LSI Keywords and Topical Entities:

  • Geographic Hotspots: Flagler County, Coral Springs, Palm Coast, Martin County, Pinellas County, Pasco County (often cited as the weirdest county).
  • Legal Terms: Petit Theft, Domestic Battery, Florida Statutes, Misdemeanor, Criminal Defense, Aggravated Assault.
  • Meme Culture: Florida Man Meme, Bizarre Crimes, Strange Florida, Viral Arrests, Absurd News.
  • Businesses/Locations: RaceTrac Gas Station, Wing Stop, Martin County Sheriff's Office, U.S. District Court.

Ultimately, May 15th is a microcosm of the entire 'Florida Man' phenomenon. It’s a day where the mundane (a slice of pizza, a chicken dinner) collides spectacularly with the criminal, ensuring that the Sunshine State continues its reign as the source of the world's most unbelievable news headlines.

The 5 Most Bizarre 'Florida Man' Incidents That Happened on May 15th
may 15th florida man
may 15th florida man

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