A Virginia man visiting Florida was arrested on Tuesday and accused of causing a racist scene at a sports bar by invoking President Donald Trump’s name as he threatened a staff member with deportation and assaulted the manager.
Security camera footage from Sunday appears to show 42-year-old Michael Nixon walking toward the side of the bar at Norman’s Tavern in Miami and knocking over a glass before intentionally damaging it, according to a criminal complaint obtained by HuffPost.
The bar’s manager told authorities that Nixon said he wouldn’t pay for anything and threatened to break more things, according to the complaint.
At that point, police said, the manager stepped in front of Nixon in order to defend his employees and prevent the man from leaving before authorities arrived.
Nixon then made what police described as “Hispanophobic remarks” about the manager.
“Hola, English, motherfucker. I live in America, you speak English,” Nixon allegedly told the manager before repeatedly saying, “English, bitch” and “Fucking Trump is going to deport your ass.”
Nixon then reached around the manager and punched an employee, hitting the man on the right side of the face as the manager tried to shield workers, according to the complaint.
The manager then backed up to allow Nixon to leave and prevent any further assault, according to the complaint.
But as Nixon began to leave the restaurant, he intentionally struck the manager with his left shoulder, and the manager then punched Nixon in the face, the complaint said.
Security footage cited in the complaint showed several customers leaving the bar amid the altercation.
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Nixon left before police arrived and without paying a $130.81 bar tab, according to the complaint. He returned while officers were still gathering information for the police report.
Nixon was placed into police custody and on Tuesday was formally charged with felony battery with prejudice and misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, defrauding an innkeeper and disorderly conduct, according to online court records.
An attorney was not listed under Nixon’s court records. He remains in custody in lieu of a $5,450 bond.
