Man shatters display case at mall

By ROBERT NAPPER

rnapper@bradenton.com

MANATEE --

Authorities say a Bradenton man took out his anger over troubled economic times on a retail display at the mall.

Timothy G. Johnson Jr., 21, of Bradenton, is accused of shattering a display case at DeSoto Square mall. He said he was enraged because he did not have enough money to buy new shoes, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

Deputies arrested Johnson on Wednesday on a charge of criminal mischief, a sheriff's report said.

Mall security officers told deputies that at about 4 p.m., Johnson began cursing and yelling in the mall. He then went up to a Gold N' Time watch and jewelry display case and knocked it to the ground, the report said.

The case went flying through the air and crashed to the ground causing all of the merchandise to fall out, according to the sheriff's report.

Johnson's reason for his rage:

"I'm sorry for acting like that at the mall. I didn't have $30 cash to buy new Nike shoes, so I got mad," he told deputies, according to the report.

Johnson was taken to the Manatee County jail and later released on $120 bond, according to the sheriff's report.