Florida teen wearing inflatable dinosaur costume assaults girlfriend, police say

A 19-year-old Florida man is accused of assaulting his girlfriend while wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume because she did not want to attend a Halloween party with him, the Miami Herald reported.

>> Read more trending news

Patrick John Gallway, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested Sunday morning, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun. Port St. Lucie police said Gallway went to the victim's house Saturday night dressed in the costume and became upset when she said she wanted both of them to watch a movie at a friend's house.

The couple began to argue, and Gallway threw his cellphone onto a couch, which broke its case and his Bluetooth connection, according to the arrest affidavit.

Police said Gallway then “pushed her to the floor” and got on top of her and held her by the neck with his left hand and made “punching motions toward her facial area,” the affidavit said.

Gallway then demanded the victim reimburse him for his phone damage, so she went to an ATM and gave him $20 before driving to a friend's house, the Herald reported.

The woman's friends urged her to call police. After she was interviewed, police confronted Gallway as he drove up to his home at 2:45 a.m. Sunday, WPLG reported. Police saw the dinosaur costume in the front seat of Gallway's vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit.

Gallway was charged with simple battery, a misdemeanor, the affidavit said. He was released from the St. Lucie County Jail on Monday, WPLG reported.

About the Author