Anthony Marzola Charged After Dagger Threat to Landscaper

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Summary

A routine lawn-mowing job in St. Petersburg became a felony assault case after police said a nearby resident, dressed in a full jester costume, retrieved a 12-inch dagger-style blade and confronted a landscaper over the sound of a mower. The suspect was identified as Anthony Marzola, 51. The victim was identified as Brian Hanson, a landscaper who was mowing two lawns on a St. Petersburg street on August 14, 2025.

According to The Smoking Gun and the arrest affidavit image it published, the incident happened at approximately 2:43 to 2:45 p.m. near the 4500 block of 3rd Avenue North. Police said Hanson was working with a stand-on mower when Marzola became upset with the mower noise. Instead of simply asking for the work to stop or calling in a complaint, Marzola allegedly went to a vehicle, retrieved a 12-inch dagger-style blade and began walking toward Hanson.

The affidavit said Marzola pointed the dagger at Hanson while yelling that he could not be mowing. The report described Hanson as unable to hear the defendant at first because the mower was running. Once Hanson saw the blade and understood the danger, he turned the mower so that the machine stood between him and Marzola. That quick use of landscaping equipment as a barrier may have prevented the incident from becoming physical.

Police said the encounter was witnessed by a nearby resident. The arrest affidavit also included the detail that made the case spread quickly: Marzola was allegedly wearing a full “jester” costume during both the incident and the arrest. The affidavit did not definitively explain why he was dressed that way. The Smoking Gun noted that Marzola operated the Psychedelic Jester smoke shop, which made the costume appear connected to his business persona rather than a random outfit choice.

Marzola was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Smoking Gun reported that he was booked into the Pinellas County jail and that a judge set bond at $15,000 during a court hearing the next day. The court also ordered Marzola to have no contact with Hanson. The available sources reviewed for this article did not confirm a later plea, dismissal, conviction, trial verdict or sentence.

The existing Crime Report article contained one important legal error. It described aggravated assault with a deadly weapon under Florida law as a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Florida Statute 784.021 actually classifies aggravated assault as a third-degree felony. Under Florida’s general penalty statute, a third-degree felony can carry up to five years in prison. Florida’s general fine statute lists a maximum fine of $5,000 for a third-degree felony. Those are possible statutory limits only, not a confirmed sentence in Marzola’s case.

Florida Statute 784.021 defines aggravated assault as an assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, or an assault with intent to commit a felony. The police allegation here fits the first category: investigators said Marzola used a dagger-style blade while threatening Hanson, but the affidavit indicated that the alleged assault was “not having the intent to kill.” That wording tracks the aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon framework.

The case became viral because of the costume, but the legal core is not theatrical. A lawn mower may be noisy, but the police allegation is that a disagreement over ordinary daytime yard work escalated to a blade being pointed at a working landscaper. The costume is the carnival lantern hanging over the story. The criminal case is about an alleged threat with a deadly weapon.

The victim, Brian Hanson, was not physically injured according to the reviewed sources, but the absence of injury does not erase the alleged assault. Florida assault law focuses on the intentional threat of violence and the apparent ability to carry it out. Police said Hanson reacted by placing the mower between himself and Marzola, which supports the idea that the alleged threat caused fear and defensive action.

The public-safety concern is also broader than one odd neighbor dispute. Landscapers, contractors and other workers routinely operate loud equipment during daytime hours. If frustration over noise becomes a weapon confrontation, a small neighborhood irritation can turn into a serious felony case in seconds. That is what police said happened here: a mower, a costume, a dagger and a worker forced to improvise a shield out of the machine he was using to do his job.

Section 1: The Crime

The alleged crime was aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police said Marzola became upset with the sound of Hanson’s lawn mower, retrieved a 12-inch dagger-style blade from a vehicle and walked toward Hanson while pointing the weapon and yelling that Hanson could not be mowing.

Hanson reportedly positioned his stand-on mower between himself and Marzola. The affidavit said a neighbor witnessed the incident. Police also noted that Marzola was wearing a full jester costume during the incident and arrest.

Important wording note: This case should be described as an arrest and allegation unless final Pinellas County court records later confirm a plea, conviction, dismissal or sentence.

Section 2: Crime Location

The incident occurred on 3rd Avenue North in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. The arrest affidavit placed the incident near the 4500 block of 3rd Avenue North, where Hanson was reportedly mowing lawns. The Smoking Gun described the location as a St. Petersburg street near Marzola’s home and smoke shop.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The incident occurred on August 14, 2025. The arrest affidavit listed the time as about 2:43 p.m., while The Smoking Gun described the confrontation as a 2:45 p.m. incident. The Smoking Gun published its report on August 15, 2025.

Correction note: The existing Crime Report page has a July 25, 2026 publication date at the top. That is the page date, not the crime date. The underlying incident occurred on August 14, 2025.

Section 4: Police Department

The case was handled by the St. Petersburg Police Department. The arrest affidavit identified Officer Jonathan Goodman as the reporting officer. The department lists 911 for emergencies, 727-893-7780 as its non-emergency number, and 727-893-7521 as its main number.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The suspect was identified as Anthony Marzola. The arrest affidavit listed him as Marzola, Anthony. The Smoking Gun reported that Marzola operated the Psychedelic Jester smoke shop, which may explain why he was wearing a full jester costume in the middle of the afternoon.

Section 6: Suspect Age

Marzola was reported to be 51 years old at the time of the August 2025 arrest.

Section 7: Charges

Marzola was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Florida Statute 784.021 defines aggravated assault as an assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, or an assault with intent to commit a felony. The same statute classifies aggravated assault as a third-degree felony.

Legal correction: The existing Crime Report page described the charge as a second-degree felony with a possible 15-year maximum. Florida Statute 784.021 classifies aggravated assault as a third-degree felony. Under Florida Statute 775.082, a third-degree felony can carry up to five years in prison. Under Florida Statute 775.083, a third-degree felony can carry a fine of up to $5,000. Those are statutory limits, not a confirmed sentence.

Section 8: Bond Amount

The Smoking Gun reported that a judge set Marzola’s bond at $15,000 during a court hearing after the arrest. The judge also ordered him to have no contact with Brian Hanson.

Section 9: Conviction

No final conviction was confirmed in the available sources reviewed for this article. Marzola should be described as arrested, charged or accused unless official Pinellas County court records later confirm a conviction, plea, dismissal or other final disposition.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources. For legal context only, aggravated assault under Florida Statute 784.021 is a third-degree felony, which can carry up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 under Florida’s general penalty and fine statutes. No actual prison term, probation term, fine or dismissal was confirmed for Marzola in the available reporting.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that Marzola was arrested, booked into the Pinellas County jail, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, given a $15,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with Hanson. No final court outcome was confirmed in the available sources reviewed. Marzola is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Section 12: Victim

The victim was Brian Hanson, a landscaper who was mowing two lawns in St. Petersburg at the time of the incident. Police said Hanson placed his stand-on mower between himself and Marzola after seeing the dagger-style blade. No physical injury to Hanson was reported in the reviewed sources.

The incident also affected the nearby resident who reportedly witnessed the confrontation, though that witness was not publicly named in the sources reviewed for this article.

Section 13: Victim Name

The publicly reported victim name was Brian Hanson.

Section 14: Victim Age

Hanson’s age was not reported in the reviewed sources.

Sources

1. Crime Report: Existing Anthony Marzola jester dagger article page
2. The Smoking Gun: Jester Headed To Court On Felony Assault Charge
3. The Smoking Gun: Jester Arrest document page
4. The Smoking Gun: St. Petersburg Police arrest affidavit image
5. New York Post: Florida man dressed in full jester costume arrested for pulling 12-inch dagger on landscaper
6. Florida Senate: Florida Statute 784.021, Aggravated Assault
7. Florida Senate: Florida Statute 775.082, Penalties
8. Florida Senate: Florida Statute 775.083, Fines
9. St. Petersburg Police Department official website

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