A Leesburg man was arrested for battery after allegedly pushing a woman into a refrigerator and a couch.
An officer responded to a domestic battery at an undisclosed Leesburg residence around 11:52 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The complainant advised that a woman was pushed by a man.
Upon arrival, the officer was met by 32-year-old Christopher James Sullivan outside of the residence while another officer spoke with the female victim. Sullivan advised that they were in a verbal argument, and the victim “smashed” his phone. He stated multiple times that there was no physical contact between him and the victim, the report said.
The officer next interviewed a witness who was asked to come outside and speak with him privately. The witness stated that she heard Sullivan and the victim arguing in the hallway while she stayed in her room. When she stepped out of the room, she saw the victim on the ground, the report said.
The victim told the witness twice that Sullivan pushed her onto the ground and told her to call the police. The witness clarified that she did not see Sullivan pushing the victim onto the ground, the report said.
The officer then spoke with the other officer who was told by the victim that during the verbal altercation, Sullivan placed both hands on her shoulders and began yelling at her. She fell of her own accord due to her being intoxicated, not from Sullivan pushing her. She admitted to smashing his phone. No injuries were observed on her, and she declined EMS, the report said.
The officer talked to Sullivan once more who verbally swore to his statement that no physical contact was made between him and the victim. He advised that he did not want to seek prosecution for his broken phone. Sullivan, the victim and the witness all declined to provide a written statement but verbally swore to their statements. Sullivan advised he would return to his bedroom and sleep to avoid further conflict, and the case was to be forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for further review, the report said.
However, at about 2:43 p.m., the officer was dispatched back to the same residence. The victim requested contact from law enforcement once more advising that Sullivan had been drinking and pushed her down, the report said.
Upon arrival, the officer reconvened with the victim. She stated that the statement she gave earlier was not true due to her fear of Sullivan being present. Before their first arrival, Sullivan grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her into the refrigerator. She subsequently fell to the ground, the report said.
The victim stood up and walked away, but Sullivan reapproached and pushed her into the couch. She fell once more as a result. Before he pushed her, he picked up a chair and smashed it to the ground, the report said.
Furthermore, the victim waited until Sullivan fell asleep to begin packing her belongings into her vehicle. The officer observed several items on the rear seats of her vehicle and the front windows open. He also saw a smashed dining room chair near the kitchen area of the home as the victim described it to be. The victim complained of a pain in her lower back area from the physical altercation and requested EMS, the report said.
Contact was again made with the witness. She provided the same verbal statement and verbally swore it was true to the best of her knowledge, the report said.
Officers observed Sullivan sleeping in the bedroom as the victim advised, and he was thereafter arrested for domestic battery (simple touch or strike). The Missouri native was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
