Man charged with spitting at Disney guard who asked for mask
Authorities say a Florida man spat on a security officer at Walt Disney World after she asked him to put on a mask
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Florida man spat on a security officer at Walt Disney World after she asked him to put on a mask, according to an arrest report released Monday.
Kelly McKin, 51, of North Palm Beach, Florida, is facing a charge of battery on a uniformed security officer following the encounter last month, the arrest report said.
McKin was outside Disney's Contemporary Resort when Disney World security officer Kristen Goldstein asked him to put on a mask while he was at the property. McKin told her he would once he was inside the building. When Goldstein told him Disney's policy required masks to be worn at all times, McKin told her to leave him alone and spat on her before walking into the resort, the report said.
The security officer wasn't directly hit, but some saliva did get on her forehead, the report said.
Security cameras caught an image of McKin and a bulletin was issued for him. McKin was stopped the next day after a Disney worker recognized him, according to the report.
Under questioning by a sheriff's deputy, he denied spitting at Goldstein. He said he had talked with the security officer about the mask policy and promised to put his mask on once he entered the building, and that was the end of their interaction.
“I asked Kelly if he spat on Kristen or if he spat in the general direction of Kristen, and he replied he did not, and was adamant he did not spit on her," Orange County Sheriff's deputy Patrick Strawn wrote in the report.
McKin was told not to return to Disney World. No one on Monday answered a phone number listed for him in the arrest report.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.