A Florida man could face up to five years in prison after police say a ketchup packet was used in an alleged assault, with the charge elevated to a felony because of a prior conviction.
According to authorities, 28-year-old Austin Simmons was arrested Monday night following an incident at a Florida bus terminal. Officers said Simmons appeared to be unconscious when another man, Carlos Mora, stopped to check on him. Police claim Simmons then became angry, approached Mora, and threw an open ketchup packet at him.
As reported by The Smoking Gun, Mora ended up with two visible ketchup stains on his jacket. Officers later found the opened packet on the ground with ketchup spilled out, though it was not collected as evidence. Simmons denied hitting Mora but allegedly admitted to handing him the ketchup packet.
While similar incidents are typically charged as misdemeanor battery, Simmons was charged with a third-degree felony due to a previous battery conviction from 2019. During a search after the arrest, officers also reportedly found a small amount of a chalky substance, resulting in an additional drug possession charge.
Simmons is being held on a $5,000 bond covering both charges. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The case adds to a growing list of bizarre incidents involving condiments, which have occasionally led to police involvement in recent years.