Ax-wielding Florida man follows women around convenience store, police say

Van Arnold was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence. (Photo: ActionNewsJax.com)

Van Arnold was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence. (Photo: ActionNewsJax.com)

A young mother said a man with an ax threatened her and her daughter Wednesday night at a convenience store.

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Van Arnold, 45, was sexually harassing women inside the store, at one point telling the female clerk he wanted to come behind the counter and have sex with her, according to a police report

The report said Arnold then tried to lure the mother, who was with her child, to the back of the store.

An employee then kicked Arnold out of the store.

Witnesses said Arnold then grabbed an ax out of his truck and came at the woman and her child.

In a Facebook comment, the woman wrote, “the ax would have killed my daughter and no telling what else would happen.”

Police were hanging out in the parking lot as the situation unfolded. Officers were able to stop the suspect before he hurt anyone. Officers stunned Arnold with a Taser.

Arnold was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence.

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