Assault

Clearwater, Florida – A peculiar incident unfolded on a recent Friday evening in Clearwater, Florida, where an employee of a local puppy store, dressed in an inflatable dog costume, was arrested for allegedly strangling a juvenile. The bizarre event occurred outside Sunshine Puppies, a business located on a busy roadway, where the costumed employee was serving as a sign spinner to attract customers. The accused, 46-year-old Rodney Platthy, is a registered sex offender with an extensive criminal history.

The altercation, which police say stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Platthy and a group of juveniles, culminated in a brief but terrifying chokehold incident. Platthy was arrested and charged with felony battery by strangulation. He has since been released on a $10,000 bond, with a judge ordering him to have no contact with the victim. This case has drawn significant attention due to the strange circumstances and the defendant’s troubling background.