A Leesburg man was arrested at McDonald’s after he allegedly struck his former girlfriend and stole her vehicle during a birthday party.
Jermaine Burton, 38, was charged with simple battery, burglary (assault or battery, no forced entry), and theft of a vehicle after the incident, which happened late Sunday/early Monday at a residence on Southeast Street.
Officers responded to the home around 12:12 a.m. Monday. The victim said she was inside her residence tending to a birthday party for her unidentified juveniles when Burton came in through a side window. For an unknown reason, he exited through the same window before going around to the front door and trying to enter, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The victim said she tried to hold the door closed, but Burton overpowered her. She said as he entered the residence, he struck her on her mouth with a closed fist. He then left the area in her vehicle without her permission, the report said.
The victim said Burton took her car keys without permission earlier that day, although she did not report the incident to law enforcement. She didn’t provide any other information on that incident other than Burton did not have her permission, and she reiterated that he later struck her and took her car without permission. The victim said she and Burton previously dated for about one year but did not live together or have children, according to the report.
Officers observed the victim to have a large laceration on the top left portion of her inner lip, and her mouth was bleeding. There was also a large amount of blood on the floor from her injury. Despite the visible injuries, the victim refused medical services, the report said.
A local BOLO (be on the lookout order) was sent to surrounding agencies in reference to the victim’s stolen vehicle. At about 12:28 a.m., officers were advised that a Lake County sheriff’s deputy observed the vehicle pulling into the McDonald’s at 10420 US Hwy 441. Deputies detained Burton until Leesburg officers responded to the scene. Burton was arrested and taken to the police station, according to the report.
While being booked, Burton told officers he and the victim had been in an altercation inside the residence. He said he never struck the victim with a closed fist, but he admitted to pushing her down to the ground. Burton said he didn’t think the victim was bleeding when he left. He admitted to being in possession of the victim’s vehicle earlier in the day, and he also claimed the victim sliced his right hand near the ring finger with a knife, the report said.
The report noted the very small laceration on Burton’s hand did not appear to be from a knife. Instead, it looked more consistent with a cut from punching someone and hitting their tooth.
Burton was taken to the Lake County Jail, where bond was set at $32,000.
