Two Ohio residents were arrested at Port Canaveral, Florida, after allegedly forcing their way into another passenger’s cruise ship cabin and assaulting three occupants, including a 9-year-old child.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Gannon Jacox, 29, and his girlfriend Brooklyn Hicks, 28, had been arguing loudly aboard an unidentified cruise ship after consuming alcohol. A fellow passenger reportedly asked the couple to lower their voices, after which Hicks approached the passenger while Jacox followed and recorded the confrontation on his mobile phone.
Authorities allege that the confrontation moved into the other passenger’s cabin, where an additional adult and a 9-year-old child were present. The couple allegedly forced their way inside, after which Jacox is accused of striking all three occupants. Hicks was also alleged to have thrown punches during the altercation.
None of the three passengers was reported to have suffered serious injuries. Jacox sustained an eye injury during the confrontation.
Following the ship’s return to Port Canaveral on August 15th, both passengers were taken into custody and booked into the Brevard County Jail. Jacox faces charges of burglary with battery and child abuse without great bodily harm, while Hicks was charged with burglary with battery and battery-touch or strike.
The cruise ship involved has not been identified publicly. Four cruise ships were scheduled at Port Canaveral on August 15th, including RCI-Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, DCL-Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure, and CCL-Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras and Carnival Freedom, but authorities have not established which vessel the couple had been sailing aboard.
Hicks was released on August 17th, while Jacox was released on August 16th. The incident remains under the jurisdiction of Brevard County authorities.