Anthony Sapienza arrested after Port Orange pickleball dispute turns physical

Anthony Sapienza allegedly attacked another player during a dispute over the pickleball "kitchen" at Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange, Volusia County, deputies say. The confrontation on Feb. 8 escalated from a rules disagreement into physical violence that left at least two men bleeding, according to the arrest affidavit and deputy notes.

Volusia County deputies arrived at the country club courts around 11:10 a.m. the morning of Feb. 8, according to Deputy Tiecha West’s notes in the arrest affidavit. The match involved two married couples and centered on whether a male opponent had stepped into the kitchen - the restricted area that extends seven feet from the net to the sidelines.

The affidavit summarizes the sequence. During play, Anthony Sapienza accused his opponent of stepping into the kitchen, and insults passed between the two couples. Near the end of the match, as the other couple was walking off the court, Sapienza allegedly said, “Your wife is a c t,” a misogynistic vulgarity recorded in the affidavit. The male opponent told Sapienza “not to speak about her that way,” and the affidavit says Sapienza then lunged and punched the man on the left side of the face.

The affidavit and witness statements say Sapienza also struck the man with a pickleball paddle, causing “significant bleeding.” Bo