Preston Henn, the multimillionaire owner of the Swap Shop and Broward County political powerbroker, was arrested Sunday night in connection with a May 20 incident that escalated into a scuffle with Broward sheriff’s deputies.
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Leljedal said Henn was arrested between 9 and 10 p.m. in Pompano Beach and charged with two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer, simple battery and criminal mischief.
He was being booked late Sunday night at the county’s main jail, Leljedal said, and bail could be set by morning.
Henn, 74, said earlier in the day he didn’t think a warrant had been issued for his arrest. He said he would go peacefully if arrested, then sue the Sheriff’s Office for $100 million, considerably more than the $5 million to $50 million he has mentioned recently.
“I wish they would come,” Henn said outside his office at the sprawling 88-acre Swap Shop. “I’ll be sure that I’m on my video.”
In the May 20 incident, sheriff’s deputies subdued Henn with a Taser and took him for psychiatric evaluation after he attempted to evict a longtime vendor. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the site.
Henn locked himself in his office. Officials said he was belligerent when he came out, pushing a chief.
Henn denies the assault.
“I was Tasered in the back, and I collapsed in the chief’s arms,” he said.
Last week the Sheriff’s Office severed ties with the Swap Shop, leaving it without law enforcement for the first time in 40 years. Henn had paid about $150,000 a year for 12 deputies over the course of a week.
Jean-Paul Renaud can be reached at or 954-356-4556.
