The episode began when McCaully stole the victim’s wallet during a vehicle burglary and then used his credit card and driver’s license to rent a vehicle and purchase $2,000 worth of items, according to a report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim called the rental car company, which gave him the contact information for the person who rented the car, deputies said.
The victim and McCaully spoke over the phone several times and the victim pretended to set up a drug deal so he could meet McCaully at the Westfield Brandon Mall, deputies said.
They met in Macy’s around 3 p.m. Wednesday and a call was place to the sheriff’s office to arrest McCaully. But before deputies could arrive, McCaully tried to run and the victim and his friends tackled him in the mall parking lot, deputies said.
McCaully punched and kicked them and reached for his waistband, making the men think he had a gun, so they defended themselves by punching back, deputies said.
