Cyclist’s video shows angry encounter with Keiser University president
Two cyclists say they were nearly run over and then bullied by a local university administrator who flashed a gun when they confronted him. They are seeking legal action, but the police say they don’t have a criminal case.
While seeking what has so far been an elusive legal standing, the cyclists have taken their case against the Palm Beach resident and Keiser University West Palm Beach Flagship Campus President Garrett Vonk to the court of public opinion. A screenshots of the curse-laden video was posted as a comment to the university’s International Language Institute Facebook page.
Vonk says he is the victim in the matter that began when he attempted to pass riders Diego Broglia and Patrick Whyte, saying they were hogging A1A.
Attorney Jeffrey Vivo, who represents Broglia and Whyte, said Vonk passed very close to his clients in a white SUV, almost hitting Broglia and another group of cyclists he was with.
The encounter happened on the evening of July 7 and ended when cyclists followed Vonk into his condo’s parking lot.
The exchange captured on Broglia’s GoPro camera, shows him approaching Vonk and telling him to “just be careful.”
“No, I’m not being careful. Stay the (expletive) off the road,” Vonk responded.
“You’re four wide, and you don’t think that’s a big deal,” to which Broglia responds, “We are single lane.”
Minutes later, Whyte is heard telling Vonk, “All right, that’s OK, we know where you live,” while Vonk says “You think I’m afraid of you?”
The video then shows Vonk taking a gun from his bag and placing it in his pocket.
Broglia accuses Vonk of pulling a gun on him, while Vonk says he only put the gun in his pocket and is “authorized to carry.”
Vivo, the lawyer, said he sent a letter and a copy of the affidavit to the State Attorney’s Office asking for a review of the confrontation after Palm Beach Police determined Vonk would not face charges.
“Palm Beach Police Department failed to charge or investigate the July 7, 2020, incident. We believe Dr. Vonk was shown favorable treatment as a Palm Beach resident.”
“He was the initial aggressor in this encounter, and he brandished a firearm. His parting words to my clients were that zero people get arrested for hitting bikers,” Vivo told the Daily News.
Michael Edmonson, executive assistant to State Attorney David Aronberg, said Vivo’s complaint would have to go through law enforcement and not the State Attorney’s Office.
Palm Beach Police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick said Vonk was not shown preferential treatment. The department investigated the incident and Vonk’s actions were “justified,” he said.
“They (Broglia and Whyte) followed him (Vonk) and trespassed on his private property to confront him. There was no threat of violence and Mr. Vonk lawfully owns a gun,” Ogrodnick said. “We’re going to follow the professional opinion of the State Attorney’s Office and not be pressured to charge someone when there wasn’t a violation.”
Vonk told the Daily News he was unfairly portrayed in the video and that he never intended to harm anyone.
“I pull into my private property, and lo and behold, suddenly there’s this guy screaming at me. I was taking my things out of the car, something I do every day,” Vonk said. “I have a permit for the gun and I was taking it out because it’s not safe to leave a gun in the car, and while I was doing that, they accosted me. I was putting it in my pocket, and at no time did I point it at anyone.”
Vonk insists Broglia and Whyte were riding four wide across the roadway and not single file as they claimed, which made it hard to maintain his distance. He also said the video was edited so it wouldn’t show that Broglia and Whyte “were all over the road.”
Some viewers of the video have shown support for Broglia and Whyte on one of Keiser’s Facebook pages in the form of comments which condemn Vonk’s actions.
“Update: Meet Dr. Gary Vonk, President of Keiser University, in his spare time he likes to intimidate cyclist with his SUV and Gun. ‘Get off the roads, or I’ll run you over’... I’m not letting this go. Someone ID this guy. If the cops wont do anything social media can,” said one post on Facebook.
“Is this madman who threatens to run over cyclists and pulls a gun on an unarmed person someone you want representing your school?” said another.
Vonk admitted to swearing at them and said it was because he was frightened.
“I’m an old guy, and these guys on bikes are on my case. I tried to get away from them three times, and they were totally confrontational. We all know there’s an issue between cars and cyclists, but I’ve never had any chase after me,” he said.
Vivo said he will continue to pursue the case.
“We’re taking it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement next. I want justice and accountability for my clients,” he said.