Brian Autz
A UT student was arrested and charged with felony battery after punching a Metro Mart employee in the mouth, breaking his jaw and knocking out his bottom teeth.
Brian Autz, a freshman, was with two fellow students outside of Metro Mart on March 28 when an employee told him that he could not enter the store because of previous thefts he had committed, according to the Tampa police report.
Autz began arguing with the employee who denied him entrance into the store while one of Autz’s friends went inside.
As Autz’s friend left the store (without having made a purchase), another employee, the victim Waleed Abdelrahmon, followed him outside where Autz and the other employee were still arguing.
Abdelrahmon was dialing 911 from a cordless phone when Autz turned around and struck him with a closed fist.
The three students ran from the store and back to campus. UT security was notified and held the students.
Tampa police transported them back to Metro Mart where the victim identified Autz.
Autz was taken into custody while one friend was let go without incident and the other given a trespass warning.
Abdelrahmon’s jaw was wired shut for the next six weeks and he was unable to speak clearly for some time.
Autz was recorded as saying that “he struck the victim because he was in fear for his safety.”
This recent incident is one of a few crimes involving students at this location since the beginning of the academic year.
In the past students have usually been victims rather than defendants.
The university does not have the authority to patrol the area of the Metro Mart, according to Kevin Howell, assistant Director of Safety and Security.
However, UT patrols the university property including the area between the intersection of North Boulevard and Kennedy to North A St. and of North B St. and Brevard and Kennedy to North A St. and Brevard.
Howell said Tampa police assists in patrolling off-campus areas surrounding the university such as this one.
According to Dean of Students Bob Ruday, Autz is no longer a UT student.
