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Florida man denied entry to USAA building puts on helmet and drives car into facility: TPD

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Published  December 4, 2024 10:32am EST
Tampa
FOX 13 News

Man accused of crashing into USAA building

Ariel Plasencia reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida man with his sights set on entering a USAA building in Tampa wasn’t going to let anything stop him from gaining access.

Tampa police say Robert Beaty, 70, went to the guard gate at the USAA office located at 17200 Commerce Park Blvd. shortly before 2:15 p.m. Tuesday and demanded to be let inside.

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After the guards refused to let him inside, officers say Beaty put on a helmet, drove recklessly through the USAA parking garage and damaged several fences on the property.

Police say Beaty drove into the USAA building after being denied entry by guards. Image is courtesy of TPD.

Police say Beaty drove into the USAA building after being denied entry by guards. Image is courtesy of TPD.

Two people in a marked security SUV tried to block Beaty in, but police say he intentionally reversed and struck their vehicle to create space.

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When officers arrived, they found Beaty on the third floor of the parking garage, where he was taken into custody.

Robert Beaty mugshot courtesy of Tampa Police Department.

Robert Beaty mugshot courtesy of Tampa Police Department. 

Nobody was injured in the crash, and Beaty was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one felony count of burglary of an occupied structure and one felony count of criminal mischief of $1,000 or more.

At Beaty’s first court appearance on Dec. 4th, a Hillsborough County judge set bond at $15,000. 

Beaty’s defense attorneys had asked for a lower bond amount, telling the courtroom that their client has lived in Hillsborough County for 21 years and "his source of income is social security." 

Also, in court on Dec. 4th, the state told the judge that Beaty’s record includes traffic offenses for driving while his license was canceled, suspended, or revoked in 2016.

USAA spokesperson Rebekah Nelson issued the following statement to FOX 13 News:

  • "An unauthorized vehicle was driven onto USAA’s Commerce Park campus and impacted part of our facility. There are no operational impacts, and our campus is secure. The driver was immediately taken into custody, and law enforcement is investigating."

FOX 13 News has contacted Beaty’s attorneys and is awaiting a response.

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