Florida Couple Charged After Violent Pickleball Court Brawl
Florida Couple Charged After Violent Pickleball Court Altercation
Have we officially reached peak pickleball?
A Florida couple is facing felony charges after what deputies described as a physical fight involving more than 20 people at Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange on Sunday, February 8.
According to an arrest affidavit filed by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the altercation began during a pickleball match when 63-year-old Anthony Sapienza accused the opposing players of stepping into the “kitchen” — the 7-foot by 20-foot restricted area near the net designed to prevent aggressive close-range play.
After the match ended and the opposing couple began walking away, authorities allege Anthony yelled an obscene insult at the woman. When her husband confronted him, deputies say Anthony approached the man, punched him in the face, and struck him with a pickleball paddle, causing significant bleeding.
Emergency responders transported the injured man to AdventHealth Hospital with a laceration above his left eye.
Authorities also allege that Anthony:
- Punched another man in the nose
- Forcefully pushed a 70-year-old woman to the ground when she attempted to intervene
A witness told deputies she saw Anthony punch the victim and hit him with the paddle as both men fell. Police say Anthony and his wife, Julianne Sapienza, 51, fled the scene before later being arrested.
Julianne was arrested on a charge of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
Anthony was arrested on:
- Two counts of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older
- Aggravated battery causing bodily harm
According to charging documents, prosecutors allege Anthony intentionally caused bodily harm and used the pickleball paddle as a deadly weapon.
A court hearing is scheduled for March 3.
