On Friday morning, Sebastian Crab Stop Owner Ellis Buckner was arrested on a charge of Battery, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sebastian Police Department issued a warrant for Buckner’s on Thursday. He was arrested at 8:50 a.m. at the Crab Stop in Sebastian.
The arrest comes after a women who worked for the Crab Stop in Sebastian accused Ellis Buckner of Sexual Assault and Battery.
Soon after our initial report Thursday, two more female workers filed complaints about Ellis Buckner at the Crab Stop in Vero Beach. Those complaints are still under investigation.
A bartender at the Crab Stop in Sebastian said she was working behind the bar when Buckner bent down beside her and allegedly said, “nice legs.” The bartender said she heard him say, “can I touch them” but thought maybe she misheard him. At that time, Buckner allegedly grabbed the upper/back portion of the bartender’s thigh and squeezed it for 10 seconds. Buckner then allegedly said, “nice, you been working out,” according to the affidavit.
However, Buckner claims he knelt down to check the fan that is used to keep the floors dry behind the bar. The fan was not turning on, so he had to work on the breaker. Buckner told police that as he was kneeling, the bartender was working and appeared to be moving towards the fan where he was.
“He put his hand out as if to stop her and touched her upper leg,” the report said. Buckner told police that he did make a statement about her having nice legs.
“I touched her leg when trying to shield her from space after the fan was turned on,” Buckner wrote in a statement to police.
Buckner’s wife, Brandy, denies the allegations.
“This is definitely not true, and we’ve contacted our attorney, who advised us not to speak to anyone until further notice,” Brandy Buckner told Sebastian Daily.
Soon after our report, we got word that two female workers filed complaints at the Vero Beach Police Department Thursday afternoon.
Vero Beach police tell us that one female worked at the old Crab Stop location in Vero Beach located on 14th Ave, and the other female worked at the Royal Palm location.
“We are investigating the allegations,” Vero Beach Public Information Officer Darrell Rivers told Sebastian Daily.
The Crab Stop in Sebastian has no affiliation with Crab E Bills.
