A 23-year-old Tavares man was arrested after he reportedly struck his housemate in the ribs when he was asked to start paying rent.
Joshua Collin Thompson, 23, was charged with domestic battery after the Aug. 24 incident at an undisclosed residence. The relationship between Collins and the male victim was not mentioned in the arrest report from the Tavares Police Department.
The victim told the investigating officer the altercation started over his desire for Thompson to start paying rent. He said Thompson became highly upset during the argument and rushed at him in an aggressive manner, the report said.
The victim said he gently wrapped his arms around Thompson to protect them both from being injured. He said Thompson started striking him in the ribs and tried to use an arm-based pressure point. The victim then guided Thompson onto a nearby couch, where the punching continued until the victim was able to get free, according to the report.
The officer then spoke with Thompson while he was evaluated by EMS on the tailgate of his truck behind the residence. Thompson said the victim threw his cell phone at him and grabbed him by the throat, throwing him onto the couch in the process. Thompson stated that he tried to get the victim off him with strikes to the ribs, but the victim leveraged himself up by placing his hand on Thompson’s throat again, the report said.
The victim sustained bruising on the left side of his ribs while Thompson did not appear to have any visible injuries. He was cleared by EMS without being taken to the hospital. Thompson then said he wanted to safely retrieve his possessions and leave the premises, according to the report.
However, when asked to repeat his statements about the night’s events, Thompson’s story changed significantly. This time he said the victim had thrown his phone twice, held him around the throat while holding him on the couch, and then flipped him over and held him from behind. These statements were inconsistent with his initial account, the report said.
Thompson was determined to be the primary aggressor and arrested. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.
