Wife allegedly strikes husband with hairbrush during ongoing conflict over pending divorce

A Fruitland Park woman was arrested for battery after striking her husband with a hairbrush while arguing during their ongoing divorce.

An officer responded to a battery at an undisclosed residence around 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. Upon arrival, the officer met with the male victim. 

The victim advised that he was going through a rough divorce with his wife, 32-year-old Shantel Natasha Diaz. They were in an argument when Diaz struck him on the left side of his face. Indeed, the officer noticed the victim’s left ear was very red while speaking with him, the report said.  

Additionally, the victim stated he had been married to Diaz for several years and that they had children together. He denied any form of medical assistance for his injuries. He then allowed the officer to come into the residence so he could speak to Diaz, who was in a bedroom of the home, the report said. 

Diaz confirmed that she was going through a divorce with the victim. She claimed they were standing in the hallway of the residence arguing, at which point the victim put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her backwards. In response, she struck him to defend herself, the report said. 

Diaz was not sure how the victim’s ear became red, stating that she could rub her own ear and make it red. The officer did not notice any signs of injury on Diaz, and she denied medical assistance, the report said. 

The officer returned to the front of the residence to speak with the victim again, during which he learned that the victim had a large welt with a very distinct shape on the back of his right arm. The victim stated Diaz struck him on the arm with a hairbrush that he believed to be purple or pink in color, the report said. 

During the conversation with the officer, the victim stated several times that he did not wish to press charges or have anyone arrested. He requested that law enforcement simply speak with Diaz and tell her that she could not strike him, the report said. 

The officer then went back to Diaz to speak with her about the injury to the victim’s arm. She was hesitant to admit to striking him and would not readily advise that she did so. After asking several times, she admitted that the hairbrush was under the bathroom sink and allowed the officer to retrieve it. The officer immediately confirmed that the design on the hairbrush was consistent with the shape of the welt on the victim’s arm and compared the brush with the injury, the report said. 

Officers who remained on scene advised that the victim would leave the residence and stay with his mother until further notice. A report was also made with the Department of Children and Families, the report said. 

Diaz was arrested on charge of simple battery (domestic) and transported to the Lake County Jail. The Massachusetts native was released after posting $500 bond.