TAMPA -- A college student is suing the University of Tampa over a confrontation with campus security.
Jacob McCaslin filed a complaint on July 19 in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against the University of Tampa, Inc., Stephen Monoc and Tito Mattei for negligence, false imprisonment, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, McCaslin was a 19-year-old student at UT on Jan. 27, 2021, and was driving a 2013 Ford Fusion to pick a friend up on campus. After he picked up his friend and was attempting to leave, McCaslin was allegedly confronted by Mattei on a golf cart.
McCaslin put the vehicle in reverse and attempted to exit the campus, when another vehicle, driven by Monoc, hit McCaslin's car, the suit says. Monoc exited his car and pulled a gun on McCaslin and his friend, the suit says.
Monoc allegedly ordered McCaslin out of the vehicle and both Monoc and Mattei pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him, the suit says. McCaslin alleges that he was left on the ground for more than an hour and was told he would be charged with attacking an officer with a deadly weapon. Tampa Police then arrived on scene to administer a field sobriety test, which was passed, and he was released, the suit says.
McCaslin is represented by J. Ronald Denman.
Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County filing number 130899719