A Fruitland Park man was arrested on assault charges after allegedly swinging a metal fence pole at his girlfriend and her mother.
Shawn Michael Brockway, 35, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and battery (second or subsequent offense) after the incident, which happened around 9:20 p.m. Saturday at 36642 Skycrest Blvd.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a disturbance possibly involving a weapon and spoke with a witness and the two victims. The witness, Brockway’s girlfriend, advised that she and Brockway began arguing over him losing her debit card in the front yard of the residence. She stated her mother, the first victim, exited the residence due to the yelling, according to the sheriff’s office arrest report.
Brockway then began to yell at the mother, who told him to stop. In response, he picked up a long metal fence pole. His girlfriend was unsure if Brockway was going to hit her and her mother or her car. The mother stated he was acting as though he was going to hit her with it, the report said.
The second victim exited the residence and stated she observed Brockway begin to swing the pole either at the mother or the car, so she pushed him to stop him. At that point, Brockway grabbed her by her jacket, causing it to rip. The second victim stated she had stopped touching him, but he continued to hold onto her jacket. This choked her, so she pushed him away. All three stated Brockway then walked away from the residence, the report said.
About an hour and half later, the deputy spotted Brockway walking southbound on Skycrest Boulevard towards the residence, the report said. He was placed under arrest and searched with no contraband found.
Brockway began to ask why he was under arrest, to which the officer explained the charges due to him picking up the pipe. Brockway made a spontaneous utterance admitting to the events of the incident.
Brockway was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $8,000.