A Leesburg man has been charged with pushing, punching and choking his pregnant ex-girlfriend.
Cory Michael Palmer, 27, was arrested earlier this month at his home at 2007 Hollywood Drive, by the Lake County Sheriff’s office for the alleged attack, which occurred on March 20.
On that night, officers with the Eustis Police Department responded to a verbal argument in progress at Club at Eustis Apartments, located at 2750 David Walker Drive, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County. While officers were on the way, an officer that lived at the apartment complex indicated a subject requested law enforcement assistance due to hearing screams from one of the apartments.
Upon arrival, one of the officers saw the victim on the living-room floor with abrasions on her knees and red marks on her neck. The officer asked what happened to which she advised that she got into a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend, Palmer. She indicated that Palmer was telling her through text messages that he was going to come over to her residence and retrieve the rest of his belongings, the affidavit said.
Palmer arrived at the victim’s apartment about 20 minutes later. He opened the front door with a key he made and walked into her bedroom where her and her children were sleeping. She told him to leave the bedroom, which he did. He then began to gather some of his belongings, the affidavit said.
Shortly after, Palmer started talking loudly in a manner she did not like, so she went back into her bedroom and sat down on her bed. While she sat, he went back into the bedroom and “mushed” her on the head. Palmer next left the bedroom, and the victim followed, telling him to get out of her apartment while he was trying to gather more of his belongings, the affidavit said.
Palmer then turned off a camera in the victim’s living room. She told him “you know what you’re about to do,” which was when Palmer pushed her, making her hit her back against the wall and fall. He proceeded to get on top of her and wrapped his arm around her neck to choke her, however the victim could still breathe, the affidavit said.
Once the victim was able to get up, Palmer started to punch her. He wrapped his arm around her neck once again and body slammed her to the ground, making her vomit clear liquid. During the altercation, the victim sent an SOS message to her family members. They arrived at the apartment shortly after and forced the door open, the affidavit said.
Additionally, the victim advised that she and Palmer were in an intimate relationship for about a year but broke up a few days prior. At the time, she was 22 weeks pregnant with his child, the affidavit said.
Next, the officer spoke to the members of the victim’s family, or the witnesses. They confirmed that they got an SOS message from the victim. Due to the uncertainty of what was happening, they all rushed to the apartment, the affidavit said.
As the witnesses approached the door, they heard yelling coming from inside and noises indicating a physical altercation was happening. They also heard choking, indicating that the victim was possibly being strangled. These noises led them to make a forced entry inside the apartment where they saw Palmer and the victim in the living room. Palmer then gathered his belongings and left the residence, the affidavit said.
Palmer left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival, but one of the officers was able to contact him over the phone. He stated that he went over to the apartment to gather his belongings. While he tried to do so, the victim was bothering him and getting in his personal space, the affidavit said.
Palmer indicated that the victim would not leave him alone, so he pushed her backward and to the ground due to her “running her mouth.” The victim got up and tried to punch him, so he pushed her again. She fought back by scratching and clawing at him in which he now held her down on the ground, the affidavit said.
They both got up from the ground and began to argue again. While Palmer was trying to leave, the victim threw a mini fridge at his shoulder and neck. He then swept her off her feet, making her fall on her back. Palmer tried to leave the residence but was unable to open the door due to the victim’s family members trying to get inside. He forced it open anyway and left the apartment. At that point, the affidavit said.
At that point in questioning, the phone call disconnected between the officer and Palmer. The officer tried calling back multiple times but was unable to get a hold of him, with his phone instantly transferring the call to voicemail, the affidavit said.
Palmer was ultimately arrested at his home in Leesburg on April 11 and charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant female (domestic). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $10,000 bond.
