A man being held under a Baker Act was arrested two days after he reportedly kicked a fellow patient in the mouth while he was sleeping.
Hezekiah Kenyon Strozier, 25, of Titusville, was charged Tuesday with aggravated battery in connection with the incident, which occurred Sunday at an undisclosed facility in Leesburg. The victim initially declined to press charges but changed his mind after learning his jaw was broken, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
A staff member at the facility said the male victim was there for a voluntary evaluation while Strozier was there under a Baker Act. Both had been at the facility for more than a day, the report said.
The staff member saw Strozier walk up to the victim while he was asleep in the male unit and strike him in the face with his foot, causing his mouth to bleed. After separating the men, the staff member called EMS to treat the victim, who was taken to UF Health hospital in Leesburg. The staff member called law enforcement a short time later, according to the report.
Strozier told the officer he talked to the victim because he was wearing red as if he was a member of a gang. He said the victim threatened to kill him while he was laying down. Strozier said he felt threatened for his life and kicked the victim in the face. He twice told the officer, “As a man, if you felt threatened, would you have done the same,” the report said.
Once the officer finished speaking with Strozier, he went to the hospital to question the victim, who said he believed he was asleep during the incident. The victim said he was struck by Strozier for the past mistakes in his life and didn’t want to press charges at the time, according to the report.
Strozier was arrested upon his release from the facility and charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
