A Winter Garden man was arrested after breaking into his girlfriend’s home and threatening to “kick the crap out of her.”
A deputy responded to a call regarding a battery at an undisclosed Clermont residence around 12:36 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon the deputy’s arrival, the female victim advised that she had been involved in an altercation with her boyfriend, 24-year-old Jeremiah Ryan Gowland. She explained that these events were a frequent occurrence. She also stated he resided in a home with her, her mother and her mother’s boyfriend for almost a year, the report said.
The victim explained that due to this last incident in which the altercation became physical, her mother stated he could no longer live there. The suspect left the residence in October 2023, the report said.
The altercation on the day of the arrest began with an argument about their relationship. The victim requested Gowland come to the house to gather his belongings that she would leave outside by the front door. So, he came to the victim’s house to get his clothes, the report said.
Gowland began to continuously ring the doorbell and knock on the door for the victim to let him in when he arrived. When she did not, he went into her car that was unlocked in the driveway. He used the garage door opener in the car to make his way inside the garage, the report said.
Once inside, Gowland and the victim continued the verbal argument. He entered the office where the victim was and locked them both in the room. She told Gowland multiple times that she did not want him in the residence, the report said.
Gowland then took the victim’s cell phone and refused to give it back to her. She stated that she wanted to call her mother, but he refused to return it. She continued to state that she wanted her phone back and would like to leave the room to which Gowland told her she was not leaving until they talked. She made multiple attempts to leave the room, but he would shove her and block her exit with his body, the report said.
The victim was finally able to get free and make her way downstairs, after which Gowland got angry and punched the wall. He followed her, and they continued to argue. He also returned her phone which allowed her to begin recording the incident, the report said.
Gowland began to grab for the victim’s phone. The argument became physical in which there was a “scuffle.” The victim’s hair was pulled by Gowland as he told her that if she did not stop, he “could become more aggressive and kick the crap out of her.” He once again got her phone and deleted the video she recorded, the report said.
The victim tried to defend herself and scratched his neck trying to get free. She claimed they were both bleeding at the end of the altercation, the report said.
The victim made it to the garage and was able to get out of the house under the partially opened garage door. Gowland followed her outside and opened the garage door the rest of the way. Once they were both outside, the victim stated Gowland became scared because they were able to be seen by the public. He returned her phone and stayed for about ten more minutes, the report said.
In that time, Gowland continually tried to convince the victim that he did not break into anything and begged her not to tell anyone about the incident. She called her mother who was able to convince Gowland to leave only if she promised she would call and speak to him later in the evening. He then left, the report said.
Gowland was contacted by phone and stated he returned home and drank multiple alcoholic beverages so he could not drive. He did agree to meet but continually changed the time. While on scene, Gowland and his mother repeatedly tried calling the victim to which she did not answer, the report said.
Gowland agreed to meet law enforcement at the Southern District Office in Clermont. He was driven there by both his mother and father. He gave a statement and was placed under arrest, the report said.
Gowland was ultimately charged with burglary to a conveyance, burglary with battery (domestic), hinder witness communicating information to law enforcement and false imprisonment. He was taken to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $40,000.
