Florida man arrested after pickleball slow cooker dispute
A Florida man arrested after a pickleball dispute in Ave Maria faces battery charges stemming from an Oct. 3 confrontation that allegedly involved shoving a woman and picking up a slow cooker. Steven DeMaio, 73, denies an intentional shove and says the cooker was a joke, according to reporting on the case.
Key Takeaways
- Steven DeMaio, 73, was charged with battery after an Oct. 3 pickleball dispute in Ave Maria, Florida.
- A police report alleges he shoved a woman during an argument over tournament format.
- DeMaio admitted picking up a slow cooker but said it was meant as a joke.
- He was arrested Oct. 21, released on bond the next day, and disputes the shove claim.
What happened at the Ave Maria pickleball event?
According to The Dink Pickleball, citing Gulf Coast News, the confrontation unfolded at the Del Webb Naples pickleball facility in Collier County.
The disagreement reportedly began over a proposed change to a pickleball tournament format. DeMaio said he brought paperwork suggesting format changes.
In his account, a woman grabbed the papers and ran off, prompting him to follow her. A police report alleges he shoved the woman during the confrontation.
Why did a slow cooker enter the pickleball dispute?
DeMaio acknowledged picking up a slow cooker during the altercation. He insisted the gesture was intended as a joke, not a threat.
He said he eventually threw the paperwork back onto the ground. In a phone call with Gulf Coast News, he described his state as intense: "The emotion was overwhelming."
The odd detail helped push the story into the wider Bizarre News & Florida Man cycle, even as the legal claim centers on alleged battery rather than any use of the appliance.
What has DeMaio said about the arrest?
Authorities arrested DeMaio on Oct. 21, more than two weeks after the Oct. 3 incident. He was released on bond the following day.
He disputes the police-report characterization of an intentional shove, saying any physical contact was not intentional. He has expressed disappointment that the situation escalated over pickleball.
A neighbor interviewed by Gulf Coast News described the community as normally quiet and friendly. The neighbor noted that pickleball can get competitive, but incidents like this are unusual.
Is the battery case resolved?
As of the latest reporting, the battery allegation remains unresolved. The woman involved and other witnesses had not publicly commented at the time of the original report.
DeMaio continues to dispute the account of the alleged shove while acknowledging the slow-cooker moment he framed as a joke. Court outcomes beyond the arrest and bond release have not been detailed in the available coverage.