A Tavares woman was arrested for battery after allegedly scratching a man on the neck during an argument while on a walk with a child.
An officer responded to a battery at Barrett Avenue and Ferguson Street around 6:18 p.m. June 12, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The victim told the LPD Communications Division that 28-year-old Ashley Josephine Baldwin scratched the back of his neck and took the child on scene with them.
Upon arrival, the officer found the victim walking on Barrett Avenue. He recognized the victim from a recent law enforcement encounter involving a domestic disturbance with Baldwin, the report said.
The victim advised that he was walking on the bike path that led up to Barrett Avenue with Baldwin and a child, whose relationship was not disclosed in the arrest report. Baldwin wanted to walk to another place, but the victim did not. A verbal argument then began between the two, the report said.
The child did not want to go with Baldwin and wanted to stay with the victim. As he began to walk away with the child, Baldwin grabbed the child’s hand and pulled them the opposite way. The verbal argument continued before Baldwin began to attack the victim, the report said.
Baldwin grabbed at the victim and scratched the back of his neck. Afterward, she left the area with the child. The victim completed a sworn written statement emphasizing his intent to prosecute, the report said.
While speaking with the victim, the officer observed two lateral scratch marks on the back of his neck. The marks appeared to be recent as the skin was red and irritated. He took three photos of the marks, the report said.
The officer next spoke with two witnesses who were leaving the area on foot when they saw the incident. Both advised that they were walking in the area when they overheard the verbal argument between the victim and Baldwin. They turned around and observed Baldwin attacking the victim, the report said.
While the officer interviewed the victim and witnesses, two more officers put a “be on the lookout” alert in the area for Baldwin and the child. However, they were met with negative results, the report said.
At about 9:43 p.m., Baldwin contacted the Communications Division of the LPD and advised that she wanted to speak with the investigative officer about the case. He spoke with her over the phone, and she stated that she was at 301 East Street. She was willing to meet to give a statement, the report said.
The officer proceeded to meet with Baldwin and the victim at the given address. Baldwin advised that the victim told her the police were looking for her due to the recent incident. When asked what happened, she advised that she had been looking for the child, the report said.
Baldwin went to the victim’s girlfriend’s house and was told that the child stayed the night there. When she tried to leave with the child, the victim struck her twice in the arm and pushed her down. She described being hit on the arm with an open hand, the report said.
Additionally, she stated that the victim refused to give her the child the day before. She grabbed the child by the hand because she did not want to go with the victim. She denied ever striking him, the report said.
The officer observed no signs of injury to Baldwin’s arms while speaking with her. She went on to say that the reason she left the area before was due to her fear of the victim. She gave a sworn statement regarding the incident, the report said.
Baldwin was still arrested for simple battery (domestic). She was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $500 bond.