Florida Man Arrested After Hitting Pregnant Woman With His Car During Parking Lot Dispute, Police Say

COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA — A 45-year-old man was arrested earlier this month after allegedly striking a pregnant woman with his car during a heated argument over a parking spot outside a popular restaurant, according to police.

Authorities identified the suspect as Brian Papula, who faces a charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant person following the incident that took place on October 3 in the parking lot of Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant.

Argument Over Parking Space Turns Violent

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the victim told police she was waiting in a parking space while her husband retrieved their car from another area of the lot.

That’s when Papula allegedly pulled up in his vehicle and attempted to take the spot.

The woman, who was visibly pregnant, told him she was saving it for her husband. However, Papula reportedly shook his head, then drove forward, striking her in the knee and causing her to stumble backward and lose her shoe, the affidavit said.

“She stated if she did not move, she would have been run over,” police wrote in their report.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but the victim did not require hospitalization.

Suspect Denied Hitting Her, Said He Was ‘In a Rush’

When questioned by deputies with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Papula claimed he had moved forward slowly and denied hitting the woman. He told investigators he was “in a rush” and that the victim had no right to reserve a parking space.

“You can’t save spots,” Papula reportedly told the woman before parking and entering the restaurant.

However, police said evidence and witness accounts contradicted his story.

“At the distance the victim was standing, it was clear she was pregnant,” officers wrote. “The defendant willingly and intentionally used his vehicle to move the victim out of the way, striking her knee to gain entry to the spot.”

Arrest and Charges

Papula was arrested and booked into the Broward County Jail on one count of aggravated battery on a pregnant person, a second-degree felony under Florida law.

He later posted a $5,000 bond and was released pending trial. His attorney has not yet commented publicly on the case.

The incident occurred approximately 15 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale, in a busy shopping district known for restaurants and weekend crowds.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case. For updates on this and other public safety stories across Florida, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.