A Lake County sheriff’s deputy determined a Leesburg woman was the primary aggressor in a domestic spat in which she bit a man.
Michelle Peterson, 45, was charged with domestic battery after the incident, which happened early Thursday morning. The deputy responded at about 4:15 a.m. and met with Peterson and the victim outside their residence, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Peterson told the deputy she had left the residence earlier in the day to have some space away from the victim. Later in the day, she received a text from her son saying the victim had left for the day. She returned home to be with her children, the report said.
Peterson ultimately went to sleep and later awoke after the victim came home. She said she awoke to him getting a pillow from their bed, and she started to argue with him over ongoing civil issues. Peterson said she followed the victim out of the room, and he began to argue back, according to the report.
Peterson said at that point, the victim allegedly became agitated and pushed her against the wall, getting extremely close to her face while yelling at her. She said she bit him on the lip and tried to get him off her. The victim then stepped back, the report said.
The deputy then spoke with the victim, who said he returned home late and noticed that Peterson had come home to sleep in bed. He laid down on the couch and went to sleep. The victim said he awoke a short time later to Peterson jumping on top of him as he was laying, and she bit him on the lip. Out of shock, the victim shoved her off him and started yelling, the report said.
Both individuals had injuries, the report said. The victim had a bite mark on his lip, and Peterson had scratch marks on her shoulder. She also had a cut on her hand that she stated was not from this incident.
Peterson was determined to be the primary aggressor and placed under arrest. She was taken to the Lake County Jail without incident and released after posting $500 bond.
