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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Belleview man arrested after fight in gym

Frank Vincent Lungari

A 65-year-old Belleview man was arrested recently after getting into a brief scuffle with a man who called him an “old man” during an argument while they were working out at a gym.

A Belleview Police officer responded to Too Your Health Spa, 5300 SE 110th St., where the victim said he was working out when Frank Vincent Lungari told him to be quiet. The victim said he and Lungari, who lives at 10156 SE 106th Lane, started to argue and believed the situation was escalating, according to the police report.

The victim said he went and got the manager of the gym. When the manager arrived, Lungari and the victim continued to argue. The victim called Lungari an “old man” and Lungari brought his hands forward and grabbed him near the throat area. The victim said the gym manager was able to push the two apart before anything further happened, the report said.

The victim said he didn’t need medical attention but wanted to pursue charges against Lungari. The officer observed red marks on the left and right sides of the victim’s neck, according to the report.

The gym manager told the officer he was working at the front desk when the victim came and got him. He said when he got back to were Lungari was, the two started arguing again. The manager said he tried to get the two to stop arguing and defuse the situation. He said the victim then called Lungari an “old man” and Lungari grabbed the victim near his neck, the report said.

The manager said he wasn’t sure if Lungari put his hands around the victim’s throat or below it. He said he immediately pushed the two apart and the altercation lasted only a few seconds, according to the report.

Lungari told the officer the argument started because the victim was being loud and was always trying to tell other people what to do. He said nothing else happened besides the argument. Lungari said during the argument, the victim pointed a finger into his face. He said at one point he almost fell backwards but couldn’t explain when in the argument that happened. Lungari said he became more upset when the victim called him an “old man.” His story changed several times while speaking with the officer, the report said.

Due to the marks on the victim’s neck and the statement by an independent witness, Lungari was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released on $500 cash bond.