Boca Raton Man Accused of Beating Driver After Crash, Then Fighting Deputies

Julian Kirkland (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A Boca Raton man is accused of attacking another driver after a crash on Bee Line Highway in Palm Beach Gardens early Sunday, then fighting deputies who tried to detain him, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Julian Kirkland, 34, was arrested on two felony counts, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence, and three misdemeanor counts: resisting without violence, simple battery and criminal mischief, according to an arrest affidavit.

Deputies say the trouble began around 1:55 a.m. Sunday, when Kirkland called 911 to report a crash near Bee Line Highway in unincorporated Palm Beach Gardens. Dispatchers noted that Kirkland “sounded impaired” by an unknown substance and became uncooperative, the affidavit states. While the call was being recorded, Kirkland allegedly argued with the other driver and threatened to kill him. The other driver then called dispatchers and reported that Kirkland had begun attacking him, the affidavit states.

The other driver told a deputy he was traveling on the highway when he approached what he believed was a moving vehicle, but it was stopped. He said he tried to swerve and clipped it. He told deputies Kirkland’s car was in the middle of the road rather than on the shoulder, with the report also indicating some type of lighting discrepancy.

The driver said he got out to check on Kirkland, who allegedly began yelling at him and got out of his car. According to the affidavit, Kirkland punched him in the face with a closed fist, grabbed him as he tried to walk away, and headbutted him in the nose. The driver said he slipped out of his jacket to escape and ran south on foot as Kirkland chased him.

Following dispatchers’ instructions, the driver kept his distance and walked south along the highway. A deputy found Kirkland about 50 yards south of the crash, allegedly still pursuing him. The alleged victim was found shirtless about a quarter mile away with minor nose bleeding, a sore jaw, chest pain and scrapes, and possibly a minor concussion from the airbag deployment, the affidavit states. He told deputies his injuries were not serious.

Deputies say Kirkland ignored orders to return and later tried to walk toward the driver with a clenched fist, saying he wanted to punch him. A deputy put a hand on Kirkland’s chest to redirect him, but Kirkland kept trying to get past, according to the affidavit. When deputies tried to detain him, Kirkland allegedly pulled away and had to be taken to the ground and handcuffed on the side of the busy highway. While he was restrained, he allegedly kicked a deputy in the leg, and leg restraints were used. It took four deputies to put him in a patrol car, the affidavit states. The entire time, Kirkland was allegedly screaming obscenities – some racially-charged – at the deputies and threatening them.

Kirkland was taken to Good Samaritan hospital for medical clearance. The arresting deputy says Kirkland spat blood and saliva throughout the patrol car’s prisoner compartment and said he would have spat on the deputy if a partition window had been open. The affidavit says he continued to threaten and scream at deputies at the hospital and the jail.

Kirkland remained lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $47,000 combined bail on five separate charges.