Details about the second arrest involving Crab Stop owner Ellis Buckner has been released as more allegations from female workers come forward, according to court documents.
“He was arrested for 1 count of Battery for each victim. Other charges may be forthcoming,” Officer Darrell Rivers, Public Information Officer for Vero Beach Police, told Sebastian Daily.
The second incident occurred at the restaurant in Vero Beach, where a female employee told detectives that Buckner made several “inappropriate advances” to her and was “touching her during her employment,” the affidavit says.
The female worker said she was employed at the Crab Stop from May 2019 through April 2020.
“While employed at Crab Stop, Buckner started making inappropriate statements and touching her without any consent,” investigators said.
The waitress said some of the inappropriate advances occurred when the restaurant was at their old location, and the advances continued at their new location at 89 Royal Palm Pointe in Vero Beach.
“[The victim] described the incidents to be Buckner asking her to involve him in a threesome with her sister and their friend, rubbing and touching against her, and moaning when touching her and making inappropriate comments when touching her,” according to the affidavit.
“[The victim] stated the touching also included smacking and grabbing her buttocks, and was able to provide the date of occurrence,” the report said.
The victim advised other Crab Stop employees had witnessed the incidents and have also been the victim of Buckner’s actions.
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“[The victim] provided a video clip recorded at the Crab Stop, which contained audio of a conversation between her and Buckner during which she confronted him about the incidents,” the report said.
The recording was between the victim and Buckner at the new Crab Stop location in Vero Beach. The victim said Buckner was aware of her recording audio.
On another incident, the victim said she was standing at a sink when Buckner came up behind her and rubbed his groin area against her buttocks, telling her to back up. The victim said she felt uncomfortable, so she pushed him away from her.
“[The victim] said Ellis repeatedly made inappropriate sexual comments to her and other female employees,” investigators said.
The incidents only became worse, according to the victim. There was another incident when Buckner allegedly walked up behind her, rubbed his groin area against the victim, then said, “Look at those shorts. Your legs are looking so nice.” Then he allegedly grabbed her thigh and said, “Oui,” according to investigators.
Two days before the Golden Fork Awards, the victim said Buckner hugged her and smacked her buttocks, and then he firmly grabbed her butt. The victim said another employee was there and witnessed it, the affidavit said.
A warrant was issued for Ellis Buckner’s arrest. He turned himself in last weekend. So far, he’s been arrested twice in about a week.
The first incident was reported by a female employee at the Sebastian Crab Stop.
