A Leesburg man has been arrested on a warrant involving an attack last month on a pregnant woman.
Tyric Amanti Adkins, 24, was apprehended earlier this week by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Tavares for charges brought on by an incident reported late last month.
On the night of Oct. 24, an officer with the Leesburg Police Department responded to an undisclosed residence in reference to a battery. The female victim advised that she asked Adkins to pick her up from a hair appointment. He did not arrive on time, so she had a different friend, the witness, pick her up and drive her home, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Adkins then met the victim in the parking lot of her residence. He was upset because she promised him that he could use her food stamps card which she was no longer allowing him to do. They then began to argue while she sat in the front passenger seat of the witness’s vehicle, the affidavit said.
While arguing, Adkins punched the victim on the right side of her face. She threatened to call the police, so he reached inside and took her phone. This prevented her from calling law enforcement immediately, the affidavit said.
The victim grabbed her phone and struggled with Adkins, yelling at him to give it back. He then gave her the phone and left the area. Her Samsung was cracked during the altercation, resulting in about $50 worth of damage to the screen, the affidavit said.
The officer observed a small bruise on the right side of the victim’s face next to her right eye, the affidavit said. He also noticed swelling near her right eye. The victim further advised that Adkins gave her these injuries while knowing she was pregnant.
Several people at the scene advised that while they did not see the altercation, they heard the victim yelling at Adkins to give her phone back. The witnesses saw him give the phone back and leave, and one of the subjects advised that she yelled at Adkins to give it back before he did, the affidavit said.
The officer then spoke to the witness who was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle playing on his phone during the struggle. He did not see Adkins strike the victim but did hear what sounded like someone being struck in the face. He also saw her head move to the side quickly. The witness then looked up and saw Adkins take the victim’s phone. He did not know what the two were arguing about because he was trying to ignore them, the affidavit said.
At the time, officers were unable to find Atkins. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Oct. 26, and he was eventually found in Tavares on Sunday, the affidavit said.
Adkins was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, burglary of conveyance with battery, tampering with a victim and criminal mischief ($200 or less). He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $36,000.
