A Clermont man was arrested on charges of battery and resisting arrest after an altercation turned physical and he ran away from officers trying to apprehend him for his involvement.
Police responded to a battery in progress at an undisclosed residence at about 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with the female victim inside the residence. She said 33-year-old Jonathan Ireall Blake was in the kitchen area and started curing at her. The victim said Blake poked her in the forehead and she pushed him away, the report said.
The victim said she and Blake continued to argue until it escalated to “wrestling” on the kitchen floor. At some point during the exchange, the victim grabbed a knife to defend herself and told Blake to leave, according to the report.
While there were no marks or physical injuries visible on the victim, the officer observed a damaged drawer in the kitchen and punched holes in a wall nearby. He also noticed several items on the kitchen floor, including utensils and a belt. Based on training and experience, the officer believed these observations to be indicative of a physical struggle, the report said.
The victim said Blake was bipolar and schizophrenic in addition to having been awake for several days. Blake left the area prior to law enforcement’s arrival, causing the officer to relay his description to other officers to search the area, according to the report.
At about 3:42 a.m., officers located Blake near the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Hunt Street. He had his right hand concealed in his waistband and disregarded multiple commands to show his hands and approach the officers. Instead, Blake ran a short distance away from them. Once he revealed his hands and the officers tried handcuffing him, Blake resisted by pulling his arms away and reaching for his waistband. He was eventually detained and assessed by medical staff at South Lake Hospital, the report said.
Blake was ultimately charged with domestic battery and resisting an officer without violence. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,000.
