A Leesburg man was arrested for assault after threatening his fiancé with a meat cleaver when they got back from dinner with drinks.
A deputy responded to a verbal altercation involving a weapon at an undisclosed Leesburg residence around 9:02 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with the female victim who advised that she and her fiancé, 56-year-old Anthony James Kukuris, went to dinner where they had some alcoholic drinks. They left dinner and continued to drink when they got home. Kukuris got aggressive throughout the night and eventually told her to stay in her room, the report said.
The victim was sitting on the bed when Kukuris told her to give him the phone and a gun. She told him there were no guns in the residence, to which he threatened suicide by cop and brought in a meat cleaver to threaten her with. He told her that if she did not give him the gun and phone in five minutes, he would use the cleaver, the report said.
Kukuris then left the room and put the cleaver back in the kitchen drawer. He continuously screamed, and the victim was afraid to leave the room. After about five minutes, Kukuris returned to the room clenching his fists again asking for the phone and gun. At that point, Kukuris noticed the cops arriving and walked out of the room, the report said.
The victim explained that when Kukuris held the meat cleaver, he was at the foot of the bed that she was sitting on. He held it in his hands while holding it up, causing her to have a well-founded fear he would attack her when he threatened to use it, the report said.
The deputy next interviewed Kukuris who also advised that he and the victim went to dinner and had some alcoholic drinks. However, he stated that they got into a verbal altercation at home, and she began packing her bags attempting to leave. Due to her having been drinking, he hid her keys so she could not drive. He advised nothing physical occurred and that they only argued, the report said.
Due to the victim’s statements, Kukuris was placed under arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He requested EMS respond due to him having chest pains and was taken to Waterman Hospital, located at 1000 Waterman Way in Tavares, the report said.
The Michigan native was ultimately transported to the Lake County Jail once he was medically cleared. Bond was set at $25,000.
