A Leesburg man was arrested for battery after allegedly striking another patient in the face at a mental health clinic.
An officer was dispatched to Life Stream Behavioral Center, located at 2020 Tally Rd., around 3:44 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. His response was in regard to a physical altercation between two male patients, one of which was later identified as 32-year-old Man.
Upon arrival, the officer met with an employee of the facility who was also the reporting party. She explained that the victim told staff members he was punched in the face by W, another patient. The incident was verified using surveillance footage which confirmed the victim’s allegation and led to law enforcement being contacted, the report said.
The officer asked the reporting party if she knew the victim or W’s competency level, to which she stated W was competent. She did not know about the victim. She also advised that officers from the LPD had recently responded to the facility due to W striking other patients, the report said.
After speaking with the reporting party, the officer interviewed the victim. He stated that as he was watching Iron Man 3 in the common area and talking with staff members, he was punched on his left cheek by W. He declined medical attention, and the officer did not see any markings on his face, the report said.
The officer then spoke to W who stated that he was walking around earlier in the day when the victim came from behind and struck him, “nicking” him on his left cheek. He also rubbed something on his neck. W had to punch him so he would stop. The officer did not find any type of markings or swelling on his left cheek, the report said.
Once the investigation concluded at Life Stream, the officer asked to review the surveillance footage of the incident. It revealed that at 3:13 p.m., the victim stood in the common area watching television, a staff member sat at the front desk and W stood next to the victim. W took a fighting stance and extended his right arm as though he was going to punch the victim, the report said.
W placed his extended arm down and began to walk in circles around the room. The staff member left the desk about a minute later, and W approached the victim a second time. He quickly extended his arm again and tapped or lightly hit the victim on the left side of his cheek. The victim immediately walked away to make contact with staff members, the report said.
The reviewed surveillance did not support W’ allegations. The officer requested dispatch to conduct a history check for prior battery convictions and discovered W had two of them, one of which was from Aug. 18, the report said.
Because W was still a patient at Life Stream, a police hold was completed and given to staff until he was released. He was ultimately arrested Friday afternoon on charge of simple battery (one prior conviction). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,000.
W was also arrested in March 2022 for allegedly shoving his mother when she tried to break up a fight.
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Source: leesburg-news
