A Gainesville man with “laugh now” and “cry later” tattooed on his biceps was arrested Sunday after police said he pushed his father around.
At about 9 p.m., Matthew Edward Coulter, 30, was in an argument with his 70-year-old father when the argument turned violent, according to a police report.
His father later told police Coulter pushed him multiple times, according to the report.
As his father reached for a house phone to call police, Coulter grabbed it from his hands, according to the report.
When he then tried to use a cellphone, Coulter grabbed it once again, according to the report.
“I’ll take your cellphone, too,” he said, according to the report.
Coulter’s father suffered bruising on his right arm and swelling on the top of his left hand, according to the report.
Coulter told police he took the phone but did not know his father was trying to call police, according to the report.
He told police he took the phone because he simply wanted to use it, according to the report.
Coulter was arrested and charged with battery on a person 65 years or older and obstructing justice.
Authorities took Coulter to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he remains in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
Contact Martin Vassolo at mvassolo@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @martindvassolo.
