Massachusetts Police Detective Arrested at EPCOT For Hitting Sheriff's Deputy After Trying to Get Into Private Event and Threatening Security Guard – WDW News Today

A police detective from Brookline, Massachusetts was arrested at EPCOT on January 30, 2024 after allegedly hitting a sheriff’s deputy who was investigating reports of the detective pushing a security guard.

Police Detective Arrested at EPCOT

According to the report from NBC10 Boston, Detective Duane Arthur Danforth, 38, was off-duty at Walt Disney World when the incident occurred on Tuesday, January 30. Danforth tried to get into a private event in the U.K. Pavilion of EPCOT that day by removing ropes.

Private events at Walt Disney World include everything from corporate get-togethers to weddings. The U.K. Pavilion is a popular location for the latter, but the report did not specify what kind of event Danforth was trying to enter.

A security Cast Member told Danforth he had to go around. Witnesses state Danforth then threatened to kill the Cast Member and pushed past him. Danforth was carrying a child in one arm.

Security Cast Members called in sheriff’s deputies as they searched for Danforth in the crowd of the private event. He ignored the security guards so a sheriff’s deputy reached out to him. Danforth then pushed the deputy.

The deputies then took Danforth into custody. Danforth resisted arrest. Court records described him as belligerent and intoxicated.

In 2021, Danforth was named “Officer of the Year” at the Brookline Police Department. He has been placed on administrative leave since the EPCOT incident. NBC10 Boston could not immediately reach him for comment.

We also recently reported on the Vice President of Hospitality, Sales, and Marketing for Hilton Head’s Sea Pines Resort being arrested and placed on administrative leave for drunkenly hitting a teenage Cast Member at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

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