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A Florida attorney was recently arrested after an altercation at a buffet line turned physical, Sunshine State law enforcement say.
Mark Roher, 52, stands accused of one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to Palm Beach County Jail records.
What began verbally ended with violence and an arrest, authorities say.
The incident occurred on Jan. 18, during a wedding at the Boca Lago Country Club in Boca Raton, according to a police report obtained by the Miami New Times and local news website BocaNewsNow.com.
During the reception, the defendant was allegedly in line at the prime rib carving station when two young girls cut in front of him, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office alleges. Roher got angry about being cut in front of at the buffet and confronted the father of one of the girls, according to the police report.
“The slimmer man ignored the man yelling at him and did not respond,” a deputy reportedly wrote. “Without provocation, the large, bald man struck the slimmer man on the head with a dinner plate. From thereon, a melee began between a large number of the wedding guests.”
The man attacked also relayed his version of events:
Another witness offered a similar version of events:
When initially questioned, Roher invoked his Miranda rights, the deputy wrote. Later, during a custodial interview at the Palm Beach County Sheriff District 7 Substation, Roher allegedly agreed to speak.
“[The defendant] stated that he was upset that he was being cut in line and…did get into an argument with the victim,” the police report reads. “Mark also admitted to making first contact by pushing the victim.”
Roher, however, allegedly denied hitting the other man with a plate and told investigators the reception was a “dry party.”
The defendant made clear to investigators that he suffered during the contretemps as well, according to the police report.
“[Roher] also informed me that had several injuries of where he was grabbed and escorted away,” the deputy’s report continues. “He mentioned that he was hit in the face, underarm, and shin.”
The defendant was booked into jail earlier this week and released on $1,000 bond a few hours later, sheriff’s office records show.
PART 2: EXTRA FAT: (article) (archive)
Mark Roher is accused of smashing a plate on a man’s head during a wedding reception.
“I want to press charges against him because out of the numerous people that beat me up, he’s the only one I could identify as kicking me,” Mark Roher, 52, said in police body camera footage from Jan. 18. “So he kicked me. I saw him. He’s the only one I saw kicking me, so I don’t know why he’s not getting charged.”
Deputies in Palm Beach County, Florida, didn’t see it his way and arrested him for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
As Law&Crime previously reported, deputies said Roher was at a wedding at the Boca Lago Country Club in the city of Boca Raton. During the reception, he was waiting in line at the prime rib carving station. Two young girls cut in front of him, and he angrily confronted one of the girl’s fathers, investigators claim.
The father ignored the yelling Roher, who, without provocation, struck him on the head with a dinner plate, authorities said. The confrontation then devolved into a “melee” among a large number of guests there. That victim said that Roher had shoved him and grabbed him by the collar. Another person corroborated the account, saying that the plate shattered on the victim’s head, authorities said.
In video, Roher complained as a authorities took him, handcuffed, to the patrol vehicle.
“I don’t think it’s right that you’re parading me in front of them,” Roher said.
“We not parading you, sir,” the deputy said. “We’re putting you exactly in the car.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that,” Roher said.
A hearing is set for Feb. 20, online records show.
A Florida attorney was recently arrested after an altercation at a buffet line turned physical, Sunshine State law enforcement say.
Mark Roher, 52, stands accused of one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to Palm Beach County Jail records.
What began verbally ended with violence and an arrest, authorities say.
The incident occurred on Jan. 18, during a wedding at the Boca Lago Country Club in Boca Raton, according to a police report obtained by the Miami New Times and local news website BocaNewsNow.com.
During the reception, the defendant was allegedly in line at the prime rib carving station when two young girls cut in front of him, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office alleges. Roher got angry about being cut in front of at the buffet and confronted the father of one of the girls, according to the police report.
“The slimmer man ignored the man yelling at him and did not respond,” a deputy reportedly wrote. “Without provocation, the large, bald man struck the slimmer man on the head with a dinner plate. From thereon, a melee began between a large number of the wedding guests.”
The man attacked also relayed his version of events:
Another witness offered a similar version of events:
When initially questioned, Roher invoked his Miranda rights, the deputy wrote. Later, during a custodial interview at the Palm Beach County Sheriff District 7 Substation, Roher allegedly agreed to speak.
“[The defendant] stated that he was upset that he was being cut in line and…did get into an argument with the victim,” the police report reads. “Mark also admitted to making first contact by pushing the victim.”
Roher, however, allegedly denied hitting the other man with a plate and told investigators the reception was a “dry party.”
The defendant made clear to investigators that he suffered during the contretemps as well, according to the police report.
“[Roher] also informed me that had several injuries of where he was grabbed and escorted away,” the deputy’s report continues. “He mentioned that he was hit in the face, underarm, and shin.”
The defendant was booked into jail earlier this week and released on $1,000 bond a few hours later, sheriff’s office records show.
PART 2: EXTRA FAT: (article) (archive)
‘You’re parading me’: Attorney who allegedly smashed dinner plate on man’s head over line-cutting at prime rib wedding buffet claims he’s the real victim, bodycam shows
A Florida attorney who allegedly hit a man in the head with a dinner plate initially invoked his right to remain silent when confronted by police, but eventually demanded that charges be brought against another individual too.
Mark Roher is accused of smashing a plate on a man’s head during a wedding reception.
“I want to press charges against him because out of the numerous people that beat me up, he’s the only one I could identify as kicking me,” Mark Roher, 52, said in police body camera footage from Jan. 18. “So he kicked me. I saw him. He’s the only one I saw kicking me, so I don’t know why he’s not getting charged.”
Deputies in Palm Beach County, Florida, didn’t see it his way and arrested him for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
As Law&Crime previously reported, deputies said Roher was at a wedding at the Boca Lago Country Club in the city of Boca Raton. During the reception, he was waiting in line at the prime rib carving station. Two young girls cut in front of him, and he angrily confronted one of the girl’s fathers, investigators claim.
The father ignored the yelling Roher, who, without provocation, struck him on the head with a dinner plate, authorities said. The confrontation then devolved into a “melee” among a large number of guests there. That victim said that Roher had shoved him and grabbed him by the collar. Another person corroborated the account, saying that the plate shattered on the victim’s head, authorities said.
In video, Roher complained as a authorities took him, handcuffed, to the patrol vehicle.
“I don’t think it’s right that you’re parading me in front of them,” Roher said.
“We not parading you, sir,” the deputy said. “We’re putting you exactly in the car.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that,” Roher said.
A hearing is set for Feb. 20, online records show.
