A Sorrento man was arrested for battery after allegedly attacking a man in his driveway and damaging about $3,000 worth of his belongings.
A deputy responded to a battery complaint at an undisclosed Sorrento residence around 9:25 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the deputy spoke to the male victim who advised that 27-year-old Michael Wayne Gilmer was at his house earlier that day asking him to buy his daughter a birthday present. After several text messages, Gilmer came to the victim’s house after he was told not to, and the victim approached his vehicle door, the report said.
As the victim approached, Gilmer commented “you want it” and opened the door of the vehicle, forcefully causing it to connect with the victim’s nose and knocking him to the ground. Gilmer then left his vehicle and got on top of the victim. He struck the victim in the face with a closed fist about 40 to 50 times despite him yelling stop multiple times and fearing for his life, the report said.
The neighbors eventually came outside, which was when Gilmer stopped hitting the victim and told him to call the cops. However, Gilmer grabbed his phone and threw it on the ground, causing the screen to shatter on both sides and making the phone unusable, the report said.
The victim advised that after the incident, he could not see out of his left eye and that his nose felt broken. Indeed, the officer observed a red mark under his left eye along with bruising above it. His nose was injured and disfigured, as well, the report said.
Additionally, the victim stated that his watch and tennis shoes were damaged during the altercation. His iPhone was about $1,800, his Invicta Watch was about $650 and his New Balance shoes were about $350 to $370, the report said.
The deputy next interviewed a witness who stated that he had seen Gilmer physically abuse his girlfriend on many occasions but was afraid to report them due to Gilmer’s temper. He also saw Gilmer attack the victim in his driveway and would not stop hitting him, the report said.
Another witness stated that earlier that day around 2:00 p.m., he saw Gilmer and his girlfriend arrive at the victim’s residence engaged in a verbal altercation. That was when his girlfriend advised she was not okay, and Gilmer aggressively grabbed her by the arm and forced her into the vehicle before driving off down the road, the report said.
Gilmer’s girlfriend did not wish to cooperate with law enforcement when they talked to her, nor did she wish to provide a sworn affidavit at that time. The report noted that she had several bruised markings all over her arms.
Gilmer was subsequently arrested on charges of aggravated battery, deprivement of 911 and criminal mischief (greater than $1,000). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $12,500.
