MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A 61-year-old Florida man was arrested after allegedly using his home’s surveillance and sprinkler systems to intentionally spray his disabled neighbors, including two special needs children, during school bus pickups and drop-offs.
Antonio Roman, of Ocala, was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail after turning himself in on charges of stalking, battery, and battery on a disabled person.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after receiving reports from Roman’s neighbors on Southwest 51st Circle. The family reported that starting August 8, 2024, Roman began activating his sprinklers twice daily, directly targeting the area where the children were loaded and unloaded from their school bus.
Deputies conducted surveillance and confirmed that Roman’s sprinkler system was precisely timed to turn on as the school bus arrived and turn off once it left. Investigators also verified that the system was manually triggered via a surveillance setup.
The children’s father reportedly had to wear swimming gear to shield them from the water during the attacks.
When contacted by deputies, Roman admitted to using his surveillance cameras to track the bus’s arrival and activating the sprinklers because he was angry the bus used part of his driveway for a wheelchair ramp.
Authorities later issued a warrant for his arrest. Roman, who also owns a home outside Florida, was taken into custody upon returning to Marion County.
Neighbor Leroy Harris, who witnessed the events, expressed disbelief.
“It’s not like he is parking on your lawn. He is in the street… for just a few minutes. I don’t see the reason for that,” Harris said.
Roman now faces serious legal consequences for targeting a vulnerable family over a minor neighborhood dispute.
