Ax-wielding suspect subdued by teen military recruits MMA takedown in car wash clash caught on video
An ax-wielding Florida man allegedly stormed toward two teen brothers closing an Ocala car wash Sunday night before being quickly overpowered by the older brother, an 18-year-old MMA-trained military recruit.Video released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office allegedly showed the suspect, later identified as Bryce Thayer, 36, approaching car wash workers Leodan Pino, 18, and his 16-year-old brother as they were closing for the night.Officials said when Thayer was told to leave the property, he became “irate” and approached the brothers “in a threatening manner” while wielding an ax.“I was locking up all the doors, and I heard some screaming, someone yelling something,” Pino told FOX 35 Orlando.“He’s obviously not in the right state of mind … He walks up to the tunnel, and that’s when I tell him, ‘You have to leave, man.
You got to leave.’”Pino said that is when Thayer allegedly pulled out an ax that was clipped to his backpack and pointed it at him.Footage showed Pino lunging at Thayer as his younger brother yanked the ax away from him.“Once he lowered, that’s when I shot the take-down, and I got on top of him and I controlled the situation,” said Pino, who is trained in mixed martial arts (MMA).“Once I realized he wasn’t letting go, that’s when I threw a couple elbows until he was incapacitated … I got him to his back, put him in a body triangle, held a rear naked choke on him and waited until the cops got there.”Thayer’s mugshot showed heavy bruising to the face supposedly incurred during the struggle.Pino, who recently enlisted in the military, said Thayer “got what he deserved.”During Thayer’s subsequent arrest, a search revealed he had a glass pipe used for methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office.He was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records.
He is being held on $11,00...