OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A 36-year-old man was arrested at an Ocala car wash on the evening of Monday, March 9, 2026, after being subdued by employees for acting erratically and brandishing an axe.
Employees were preparing to close up the Tidal Wave Car Wash at 7210 SW 95th St. Rd. in Ocala after 8:30 p.m. on Monday night when Bryce Thayer came on to the property and began acting strangely when asked to leave because the business was closing.
Thayer allegedly displayed an axe and approached the employees, one of whom lunged at the suspect in an attempt to disarm him. The employee forced Thayer to the ground as another co-worker managed to get the axe away from the suspect. Thayer was held to the ground until deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene.
Surveillance video at the location and eyewitness accounts seemed to corroborate the employees’ story that they acted in self-defense out of fear of being attacked.
Thayer was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, as well as a drug paraphernalia charge when a glass pipe of the type commonly used to smoke methamphetamine was found on his person.