Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A 49-year-old man who cited the sinfulness of cross-dressing is accused of assaulting a drag queen on Duval Street, then a vendor who was calling police to report the attack, according to the Key West Police Department.

Edward Miguel Font of Big Coppitt Key faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, damage to property and obstructing justice in the Friday night attacks. He was being held without bond Monday at the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island, according to online jail records.

Police said the incident occurred around 10 p.m. as Timothy Swain was riding on Duval Street in the 801 Bourbon Bar promotional car. Swain told police Font approached him with a knife and said, "I have something for you. You want it?" reports say.

Swain yelled for someone to call police after Font flashed a 3-inch knife, reports say. Font allegedly was shouting and kicking at Swain when hot dog vendor Raymond Moffitan intervened, telling Font to stop and warning that he was calling the police, reports say.

Police said Font then turned on Moffitan, striking him and smashing his $300 cell phone before running away on Caroline Street toward Simonton Street. Moffitan chased Font until a police officer arrived and arrested the suspect, reports say.

Investigators questioned Moffitan and Swain, who both said Font walked up unprovoked and began shouting before brandishing the knife, reports say.

Police said that, en route to jail, an officer asked Font why he attacked Swain, and Font reportedly replied: "Because he's a homosexual." The suspect allegedly added, "I could of cut him, but I didn't. It's a sin for him to dress like a woman." When asked why he attacked Moffitan, Font reportedly told the officer, "He was going to call police."

No one was injured.

alinhardt@keysnews.com