Collier arrest: Man beat up victim for not social distancing

A 53-year-old man was arrested on Friday in Collier County for beating up a man who he said was not socially distancing properly, deputies said.

According to an arrest report, Rayford Smith, of Washington DC, was lounging at the pool at the Willough at Naples community when the victim went to talk to him.

“Rayford told him to get away from him and that he was too close to him,” the arrest report states.

The victim left but then returned a few minutes later, causing  Smith to get angry and push the victim to the ground, the arrest report states.

Rayford began striking the victim while he was on the ground, including stomping on his face.

The victim, who was not named due to Marsy’s Law, was bruised due to the assault. Rayford’s stomps smashed the victim’s dentures in his mouth.

Abela Jean, a worker at the community, heard the victim fall to the ground and ran to the pool area where he found Rayford standing over the victim with his foot on the victim’s face.

Rayford was about to stomp once more, but Jean stopped him.

Rayford told deputies he was sitting on a bench by the pool when the victim began to hover over him. Rayford told the man to stay 6 feet away from him. The man left and then returned causing Rayford to ask him to stay away again, he told police.

Rayford said the man didn’t leave.

Rayford remains in Collier County Jail.