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<\/p>\nVOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A South Daytona man was arrested for allegedly punching a wedding officiant following a beach ceremony in Port Orange.<\/p>\n
According to the Volusia County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the incident happened around 2:30 p.m., May 17 at Toronita Park on South Atlantic Avenue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Deputies said the officiant, 69, was loading equipment after a wedding when an argument broke out with a man angry over the cost of the wedding \u2013 arguing it should have only cost $500.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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What we know:<\/p>\n
Investigators said the dispute began over comments about the cost of the wedding ceremony and quickly escalated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The officiant told deputies a man \u2013 later identified as William Joseph Wells, 35 \u2013 allegedly became aggressive, swatted at him and his cellphone, and eventually punched him in the stomach while he attempted to call 911 and record the encounter, the arrest affidavit said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Authorities said Wells then left the area in a blue Kia before being located later by South Daytona police. The officiant later identified Wells as the person who hit him, deputies said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Deputies said Wells admitted to arguing and swatting at the victim\u2019s phone but denied hitting him.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the officiant declined medical treatment and said he wanted to pursue charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Deputies said Wells has multiple prior battery convictions, including felonies, such as fleeing\/eluding and narcotics offenses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wells was arrested and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.<\/p>\n
The Source: This story was written based on information provided by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office on May 19, 2026.<\/p>\n