Puppy-Costumed Man Charged in Juvenile Strangulation

Summary

An inflatable puppy costume normally belongs in the harmless world
of roadside advertising, birthday photographs and children waving
from passing cars. According to Clearwater police, however, a dispute
outside a Florida puppy store turned that cheerful costume into the
backdrop of a felony strangulation arrest.

Rodney Bernard Platthy Jr. was working outside Sunshine Puppies in
Clearwater during the early evening of August 29, 2025. Police said
his job involved wearing a large inflatable puppy suit near the road
to attract the attention of motorists and prospective customers.

At approximately 6:35 p.m., several juveniles rode past the business
on bicycles. The police affidavit states that Platthy and the group
had an ongoing dispute and that the juveniles allegedly made comments
as they passed him.

Rather than allowing the riders to continue down the road, police
alleged that Platthy waved them toward him. The owner of the puppy
store also came outside and began speaking with the group.

One juvenile attempted to leave the area on his bicycle. According
to the affidavit, the store owner grabbed the bicycle’s handlebars
to prevent the rider from colliding with him.

Investigators alleged that Platthy then approached the juvenile from
behind and placed him in a chokehold. The juvenile told officers that
he was unable to breathe briefly before Platthy released him several
seconds later.

The juvenile reported being unable to breathe for a brief period
before he was released.

Officers were contacted after the confrontation. The arrest affidavit
states that Platthy displayed an indication of alcohol influence and
declined to provide a statement after receiving a Miranda warning.

Clearwater police arrested Platthy at approximately 7:13 p.m. He was
booked into the Pinellas County Jail on one count of battery by
strangulation.

Platthy spent approximately two days in jail before posting a $10,000
bond. A judge ordered him to have no contact with the juvenile named
in the case.

The bizarre appearance of the costume attracted online attention,
but the criminal allegation itself was serious. Florida law defines
battery by strangulation as knowingly and intentionally interfering
with another person’s normal breathing or blood circulation by
applying pressure to the throat or neck or blocking the nose or
mouth.

The offense is classified as a third-degree felony. A conviction can
carry a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to
$5,000, although the maximum penalty is not a prediction of the
sentence that would be imposed in an individual case.

1. The Crime

The criminal allegation arose from a confrontation between Platthy,
the puppy-store owner and a group of juveniles riding bicycles near
the business.

Police said Platthy was standing on the roadside in the inflatable
costume when the juveniles passed. The affidavit describes an ongoing
dispute between Platthy and members of the group but does not explain
the entire history of that conflict.

Platthy allegedly called the juveniles toward him. The store owner
joined the discussion, and one rider attempted to leave. When the
owner held the bicycle’s handlebars, Platthy allegedly moved behind
the juvenile and applied a chokehold.

The allegation met the elements of battery by strangulation because
the victim reported that the pressure temporarily interfered with his
ability to breathe.

The affidavit does not state that the juvenile lost consciousness,
required hospitalization or suffered permanent physical injury.
It nevertheless alleges that the breathing restriction created the
type of danger covered by Florida’s strangulation statute.

2. Crime Location

The incident occurred outside the Clearwater location of
Sunshine Puppies.

The business lists its Clearwater store at:

2246 Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, Florida 33765

Sunshine Puppies operates near a heavily traveled commercial roadway.
Platthy’s costume was reportedly used as roadside advertising intended
to draw attention from passing drivers.

3. Date and Time of the Crime

• August 29, 2025, approximately 6:35 p.m.
  The confrontation and alleged chokehold occurred outside the
  Clearwater puppy store.
• August 29, 2025, at 7:13 p.m.
  Clearwater police arrested Platthy.
• August 29, 2025, at approximately 8:46 p.m.
  Pinellas County booking personnel received the arrest paperwork.
• August 30, 2025
  The probable-cause affidavit was filed with the Pinellas County
  Clerk of the Circuit Court.
• Approximately two days after the arrest
  Platthy was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

4. Police Department

The incident was investigated by the
Clearwater Police Department.

Officer Andrew Billups signed the probable-cause affidavit. The
report number was listed as CW25-140199.

Police interviewed the juvenile and reviewed the circumstances
surrounding the confrontation. The affidavit states that the juvenile
described being approached from behind and placed in a chokehold.

Investigators also documented Platthy’s alleged signs of alcohol
influence. After receiving a Miranda warning, Platthy declined to
discuss the incident with officers.

5. Suspect Name

The suspect was identified as
Rodney Bernard Platthy Jr.

6. Suspect Age

Platthy was 46 years old at the time of his arrest.

The affidavit lists his date of birth as May 26, 1979. He was
described as approximately six feet one inch tall and weighing about
160 pounds at booking.

7. Charges

Platthy was arrested on one count of:

Florida Statute 784.031 applies when a person knowingly and
intentionally interferes with another person’s normal breathing or
blood circulation against that person’s will.

The law covers pressure applied to the throat or neck and conduct
that blocks another person’s nose or mouth when it creates a risk of
or causes great bodily harm.

Battery by strangulation is distinct from domestic battery by
strangulation. The allegation in this case involved a juvenile with
whom Platthy was not reported to have a domestic or dating
relationship.

8. Bond Amount

Platthy’s bond was set at $10,000.

He remained in the Pinellas County Jail for approximately two days
before posting the bond and being released.

A judge also entered a no-contact condition prohibiting Platthy from
communicating with or approaching the juvenile involved in the case.

9. Conviction

No final conviction in this strangulation case was located in the
reliable, publicly indexed materials reviewed for this article.

The available arrest affidavit establishes the accusation and the
probable cause asserted by Clearwater police. It does not establish
guilt.

This article therefore describes Platthy as arrested, accused and
charged. It does not describe the allegation as a proven assault or
claim that a criminal jury returned a guilty verdict.

10. Sentence

No verified sentence was located for the August 2025 battery-by-
strangulation case.

Although the charge carries a maximum possible sentence of five years
in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, those figures describe the
statutory ceiling only. They do not show that Platthy received either
penalty.

11. Outcome

The immediate outcome was Platthy’s arrest, booking into the Pinellas
County Jail and release after posting a $10,000 bond.

The juvenile survived the alleged encounter. The affidavit does not
report a loss of consciousness, hospitalization or permanent injury.

A no-contact order was imposed following Platthy’s release. No final
court disposition was confirmed through the publicly indexed sources
reviewed as of July 30, 2026.

12. Victim

Victim Name

The juvenile’s name was not publicly disclosed in the available
records.

Victim Age

The juvenile’s exact age was not listed in the publicly available
affidavit. The record identifies him only as a juvenile male.

Suspect’s Prior Sex-Offender Registration

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement identifies Rodney Bernard
Platthy Jr. as a registered sexual offender.

The state registry lists a 2013 Pasco County conviction for sexual
battery under Florida Statute 794.011(5). The registry identifies his
current legal status as released and subject to registration.

That prior conviction is separate from the 2025 puppy-store
strangulation allegation. It does not prove that Platthy committed the
later offense and should not be treated as substitute evidence in the
Clearwater case.

The Smoking Gun additionally reported that Platthy had prior
convictions involving battery, burglary and drug possession and had
previously served state-prison sentences. The complete history of
each reported case was not independently reconstructed for this
article.

Why the Correct Date Matters

The earlier version of this article placed the confrontation on
September 1. That date does not match the sworn arrest affidavit.

The official document states that the alleged offense occurred on
August 29, 2025. The date is also consistent with contemporary
reporting that described the confrontation as occurring on a Friday
evening.

Correct dates are more than decorative calendar tiles. They help
distinguish the alleged offense from the filing date, publication
date, booking date and later court proceedings.

This article is based on police records, statutory materials, official
registry information and published reporting available as of July 30,
2026. An arrest or criminal charge is not proof of guilt. Platthy is
presumed innocent of the 2025 allegation unless and until guilt is
established in court. The juvenile victim’s identifying information
has been omitted.