A Volusia County man is accused of tussling with police after he was refused service at a Taco Bell in New Smyrna Beach because he was on a bicycle in the drive-through lane and because the restaurant was closed.
Gabriel Harris, 33, of New Smyrna Beach, was charged with resisting an officer with violence after the incident around 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the fast-food restaurant located at 1860 State Road 44.
An employee told police he refused to serve Harris because he placed an order while on his bicycle in the drive-through lane. The employee also said the restaurant closed at 3 a.m. — about 10 minutes before the incident took place.
Another Taco Bell employee said Harris and another woman, who was also on a bicycle, tried to open the drive-through window, but it was locked, the report states.
Harris and the woman were asked to leave by an office with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department. That's when the officer "observed a red Swiss Army knife attached to (Harris') pants belt loop, on the right side of his blue jeans," the report states.
According to the report, the officer tried to take the knife, but Harris grabbed the officer's wrist.
Harris suffered a "minor scratch on his face" after the officer took him to the ground, the report states. Emergency personnel said there wasn't a reason to bring Harris to the hospital, the report states.
Harris was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he posted $1,000 bond.