The children–two 13 year olds and a 12 year old–were fishing and swimming in the Intracoastal at Canopy Walk Sunday evening when 58-year-old Gerald McCarthy walked up to them, told them they were trespassing, and that they had to leave.
The boys disputed the accusation, saying a friend had given them the code to enter.
By 11 p.m. that night, McCarthy was being booked at the Flagler County jail on two counts of aggravated child abuse–second degree felonies–two third-degree felony counts of false imprisonment, and two counts of battery. By this morning, he’d posted bail on $12,500 bond and was released.
According to his arrest report, McCarthy tried to place one of the children in a headlock as they were gathering their belongings. The boy swung his fists to pull away from McCarthy. McCarthy then allegedly grabbed the boy by his throat, lifted him off the ground, “bent him over the top of a wooden railing,” and bent his back over the railing. The boy’s head was over the water as he pleaded to be freed of the chokehold and said he wanted to go home.
“No you don’t, you have to stay here,” McCarthy replied, according to the boys’ account. One of the other boys tried to help his friend. The report describes McCarthy also attacking and restraining him.
The 12 year old was not involved, but recorded the altercation on his phone. He told deputies he and his friends were fishing when McCarthy “ran towards them with a can in his hand, yelling at them to leave.”
“This is ridiculous, I’m on the security committee and these kids were trespassing,” McCarthy told a deputy as he was being handcuffed. “I escorted them to the exist, that was it.” McCarthy had already invoked his right to remain silent.
Wishing for the good old days says
OMG – Seriously! Kids fishing and swimming – not destroying anyone’s property, not breaking into anyone’s home, and
this man acts like they were committing crimes! It’s no wonder kids have zero respect for adults these days.
Sounds like the kind of stuff most of us did when we were kids!!
FlaglerParent says
“Canopy Walk Ken” over here. If the kids aren’t bothering you, your property , or anyone else’s mind your business and let them be kids and fish.
Samoanblood says
How sad someone had to be to out hands on children. Guess I am going to be doing a lot more fishing in his area and we will see how he handles that.
SMH says
If that had been my kid, the law would be the last thing this creepy looking guy would need to be worried about. Can see from the look on this jackass’s face that he is nothing but a bully on the small and meek because he”d get destroyed by a man. He”s waited his whole life to find somebody to do this to, may as well be two 13 year olds huh.
bob says
Don’t you know who I am? I’m a “committee member” …. appears to be more like a “loser” to me
FloridaGirl says
Is this how the security committee advises them to behave? Thank God that boy got away from this man as I fear worse things may have happened to the boy had he not. It’s so damn sad how you can’t even let your kids outside to be kids anymore. These boys fishing rattled this man’s cage so bad that he had to become violent with a child. What is wrong with people! I hope his collection of charges stick. And he goes infront of one of the stronger judges. I know, wishful thinking.
Wow says
Some drunks turn into bullies.
jdubs says
For the love of all. Kids fishing and swimming! THIS is your line in the sand? How about help them to fish more successfully? Share some wisdom? Laugh with the boys?
Enjoy your mug shot. I’m sure it would delight your mother.
Jennyds says
I can tell u if that were my kid and his friends 1 0f them wld have called me 1st before the police. It’s sad we live in a hateful world where kids can’t be kids and just have fun. Most 12 and 13 year old are doing bad stuff and you have 3 boys fishing and swimming dude. This a$$hole should have been minding his own business. Security committee my a$$ you would have met protective a$$ crazy mama bear had it been my kid. Someone shld grab him by his throat and hang him over the ledge. Matter fact if be glad to do it. Smh
ASF says
His booking picture says it all…and then some.
If he really is on “the security committee” at Canopy Walk, maybe the association there should re-think things.
David S. says
What a sorry drunk POS. I hope that the judge throws the book at him. I’m so glad that the kid had a camera. Get rid of that HOA there useless.
Jimmy says
Another Zimmerman wanna-be
Ghost of Christmas Future says
The real inherent problem here is this is how these kids will see all adults (baby boomers at that), and likely see it as guidance for their own behavior in their future. This dude grew up in the sixties and seventies, so very VERY likely he too swam in a river, pond, pool, wherever that was “owned” or managed by people other than mommy and daddy. We have to be better citizens folks. We have to set better examples. We’re not doing a good job, at all. So Gerald you can’t control yourself. You feel you need to bully little boys to somehow or another justify your own manliness. You’re no more a man than the boys you harrassed. Now you’re outted. There’s this thing called the “internet”. This stupid event will be with you for your remaining days. This is now your legacy. You’re beyond rehabilitation. You’re a real estate agent, but no more now. Your license will be suspended and revoked. Your wife and kids must be so so proud. Pack your crap, sell your little condo, and get out of town. Move far far away. You’re not the example we want in this community.
Palm coast says
Let me tell u something, u dont own this world .
Mike P says
I used to work for May Management and that management company allowed these committee members too bully us for years and they still do!These men and women on the H.O.A don’t have a life and just want to be in control and have napoleon complexes!A bunch of Ken’s and Karen’s!
JimBob says
Oddly, nobody has asked whether the kids, in fact, were trespassing. If they were Venezuelan refugee kids ninety percent of Palm Coasters would support their deportation.
Local angler says
Let’s say they were trespassing… does a 58 year old man grabbing a 13 year old child by the throat seem like an appropriate response to you? This wasn’t someone’s home the kids were in. They weren’t stealing stuff. They weren’t being anything other then kids being kids. It is a common area used by many residents of the condos there. If you want to say these kids were trespassing that’s fine. But make sure you specify with the intent to fish… it wasn’t with the intent to Hotwire boats and rip them off the lifts. So I ask you again if you think a child who was trespassing with the intent to fish justifies grabbing them by the throat?
Jennyds says
They must have had a code to get in the community and if they didn’t then ask them to leave or call the police but u sure the hell don’t put ur hands on someone else’s kids. Like I said earlier better be glad it wasn’t my kid. But JimBob why throw some stupid s**t about them being from somewhere else in this story. That doesn’t have crap to do with what happened here. This is why we have a world full of hate and racism stupid comments like this 😒 sad.
Jason says
This is horrible. How you gonna put your hands on kids that aren’t yours. They were just out having good clean fun. I hope the kids are ok and continue to fish and swim in our local waters!!!
S says
Since these kids were white, it won’t be a big story. But if they were not white, it would be national news. The vampires would JUMP on this story
Jackson1955 says
He would have shot the non- white kids and claimed self defense. This scumbag is a MAGA supporter!
A.j says
National news because one of them would be dead. The adult would lie and say some crazy made up story and the cops would believe him, the other kids would be locked up. That would be national news and the adult would get away scot free. If they were bksck kids this man probably would kill them and the courts would find him innocent all charges dropped. That would be national news. Don’t make too much of a difference because a Black kid life mean nothing in this society that should be breaking news. They would not let a Black kid in a place like that. If a Black kid ask for a code the residents would call the cops soooo fast and the cops would put them in handcuffs. When whitey call cops are there very fast ready to shoot. Too many examples to share. Ysll know how this society is.