FORT MYERS, FLA-
72 year old
Charles Smith, a retired Marine, went to Carz Auto Dealership in North Fort Myers yesterday to pick up a car he had purchased earlier. He chatted with dealership owner Robert Scarpantonio for a little while, and then the two got got down to business. Scarpantino told Mr. Smith that before taking possesion of the automobile he had to pay the remaining balance of $1800. Mr. Smith made a counter offer of $900, telling Scarpantino that he had been told that $900 was the previously agreed upon balance owed. Scarpantino stood firm, and told Charles that the balance was $1800.
Naturally the situation got a little heated, and after the two argued and dickered for a kittke while, Charles told Carpantino the he was "packin heat" and showed Scarpantino a .22 caliber handgun to try and sway the car salesman to agree to the lower amount. Scarpantino remained unswayed, and told Charles to leave the establishment. Charles put his gun away and told Scarpatino "let's step outside, I'm the one with the gun, remember". After a few tense moments, Charles reached into his pocket, this time pulling out a cellphone. Meanwhile, Scarpantino, who is obviously a "think on your feet" kind of guy, had already called 911, not wishing to get shot by an irate old man. As Charles fiddled with his cellphone, police arrived. Apparantly it is against the law to use a firearm during car-buying negotiations, and the police arrested the old guy.
Scarpantino later claimed that "incidents like this are not common", and potential auto buyers should be aware that threatening an auto dealer with a gun rarely, if ever, results in a price reduction.
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