A wild scene unfolded in Vero Beach, Florida, on Tuesday afternoon after a New York man’s arrival at the Vero Beach Regional Airport took a chaotic and highly disruptive turn. Local law enforcement officers were forced to intervene when an out-of-state visitor reportedly brought his alcohol-fueled antics directly into a popular local dining establishment.
According to the arrest affidavit released by local authorities, Vero Beach Airport Police were dispatched to CJ Cannons restaurant shortly after 1:00 p.m. following urgent reports from restaurant staff. Employees alerted law enforcement to an obnoxious and heavily intoxicated individual who was allegedly making inappropriate physical contact with patrons inside the bustling diner.
The individual, identified by police as 22-year-old Chandler Robert Gousie, had recently arrived from New York. When an airport officer initially made contact with Gousie, the young man reportedly acknowledged his heavily intoxicated state. Gousie admitted to the officer that he was entirely too inebriated to operate a motor vehicle and claimed he had already ordered a rideshare service to safely leave the premises.
Despite his initial admission of severe intoxication and claims of ordering an Uber to leave the airport, the suspect’s self-awareness was short-lived, quickly escalating into a physical confrontation with Vero Beach law enforcement.
The situation rapidly deteriorated just moments after this initial conversation. A Vero Beach officer allegedly spotted Gousie attempting to get behind the wheel of his own personal vehicle. Recognizing the immediate danger of a highly intoxicated individual attempting to drive, the officer promptly detained Gousie while awaiting backup units.
When responding Officer T. Stewart arrived at the airport scene, the affidavit notes that Gousie was incredibly animated. Officers observed him screaming and wildly flailing his hands from the backseat of the patrol vehicle. As the local police attempted to safely secure the 22-year-old and transfer him between law enforcement vehicles, his aggressive behavior reached a breaking point. Police reports state that Gousie began repeatedly spitting at the responding officers. He allegedly struck Officer Stewart directly on his right arm and coated Officer Eder’s protective tactical vest with saliva.
Following the chaotic physical altercation, Gousie was permanently removed from the premises and transported directly to the Indian River County Jail. The state of Florida takes assaults on law enforcement incredibly seriously, and as a result, the New York man is currently facing severe legal repercussions in Indian River County.
The formal charges levied against Gousie include:
- Two felony counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, for which he is being held without bond.
- One misdemeanor charge of disorderly public intoxication.
In addition to his impending criminal proceedings, authorities have confirmed that Gousie has been officially and permanently trespassed from both CJ Cannons restaurant and the entirety of the Vero Beach Regional Airport property. What began as a standard flight into the Treasure Coast has now resulted in serious felony charges, ensuring this visitor’s prolonged stay in the Vero Beach area will be behind bars.
