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Credit: DisneyAn argument between family members turned violent during a day at Walt Disney World.
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Walt Disney World Resort is advertised as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” but sometimes the magic fades, even at the Magic Kingdom. From fistfights to drunken tirades, Disney World and its theme parks aren’t immune from their fair share of incidents, altercations, and just general bad behavior.
However, Disney World is far larger than just its four theme parks, as the resort is home to dozens of hotels too, all full of all kinds of visitors of their own.
The latest Disney World incident involves 69-year-old Howard Hudgens, who was arrested after threatening to kill his own son with a knife. Hudgens and his family were at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on September 27, the day of the incident.
“We do have situations where tourists and family members come to Florida and tensions run high, and sometimes arrests happen,” said Orange-Osceola County Public Defender Melissa Vickers, Hudgens’ representative. “It’s unfortunate, but we do everything we can to get to the right resolution.”
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When the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene, Hudgens stood outside with a bloody face and a metal bat in his pocket. He then explained the fight to law enforcement.
“Howard was in his room at #7342 in the Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge, he had just loaded all the luggage from the room into his vehicle. Howard was annoyed they didn’t help load the bags into the car,” the arrest report stated.
Hudgens was not ready to leave and told his son to catch a bus back home. The two started arguing. How his wife got in between them, which is when he moved her out of the way. Hudgens’ son said “Don’t push my mother!”
This is when the fight became physical. Hudgens admitted he punched him, according to the arrest report. Hudgens claimed his son punched him back.
The son told his version of the story, saying his daddy got “smart with us. I pushed him back and told him not to push her again and he hit me in the jaw, and I hit him three or four times. Then daddy pulled out a knife and (threatened) to kill me.”
Hudgens was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty in October to the felony and misdemeanor charges.
Both Hudgens and his son appeared beaten up from the altercation. Both Hudgens’ wife and son wanted to prosecute and were willing to testify against him.
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