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MMA Recruit Subdues Ax-Wielder at Car Wash
12 Mar
Summary
- An 18-year-old MMA recruit subdued an ax-wielding man at a Florida car wash.
- The suspect became irate when asked to leave the car wash property.
- The suspect was found with methamphetamine paraphernalia during his arrest.
An ax-wielding suspect, identified as 36-year-old Bryce Thayer, allegedly confronted two teenage brothers while they were closing a car wash in Ocala, Florida, on Sunday night. The incident unfolded when Thayer became aggressive after being told to leave the property. According to reports, he then approached the brothers in a threatening manner, brandishing an ax from his backpack.
The 18-year-old brother, who is trained in mixed martial arts and recently enlisted in the military, intervened to protect himself and his younger sibling. Video footage shows the elder brother tackling Thayer and using his MMA skills to subdue him, including applying a body triangle and a rear-naked choke, until law enforcement arrived.
During his arrest, Thayer was found to be in possession of a glass pipe commonly used for methamphetamine. He now faces charges including felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jail records indicate this was not Thayer's first encounter with law enforcement, having been arrested multiple times since May 2024.
