Two sisters from Texas were arrested for battery after an argument over family issues escalated into a physical confrontation.
Deputies responded to a physical altercation at U.S. Hwy. 27 and West Center Street in Clermont around 11:03 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to their arrival, dispatch informed deputies that 65-year-old Terri Fiasconaro Putnam stated her sister, 62-year-old Linda Jill Davis, was “going to kill her.” She also said Davis was concealing a firearm, later found to be a Walter handgun.
Once at the scene, the deputies spotted the women’s vehicle, and one of them had gotten behind it to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled over to the Panda Express at 2591 U.S. Hwy. 27. At that point, both Putnam and Davis got out of the vehicle to which the latter was stopped due to the allegations of being armed, the report said.
Davis was subsequently detained for further investigation and escorted to a deputy’s patrol vehicle to be questioned. She advised that she and her sister had been having family issues about an ex-husband, which prompted the argument to become heated. Putnam hit her in the face while she was driving and knocked her glasses off her face, the report said.
Davis also stated that at no point in time did she batter Putnam or threaten her in any way. She loved her sister and did not want to prosecute her, the report said.
The deputies then spoke to Putnam who advised that they were having family issues, which prompted Davis to get very irate and start battering her. She began battering her in the face, pulled her hair and said she was going to “kill her,” the report said.
Putnam was asked if Davis threatened her in any way with a gun, to which she said no. Furthermore, she had Davis’ glasses in her purse due to her knocking them off her face to defend herself, the report said.
Both subjects advised that they were temporarily in town and were headed back home to Texas. The deputies did not observe any injuries to either subject, the report said.
A copy of the 911 call was obtained, and deputies listened to it. They heard a light verbal altercation and did not hear a struggle of any sort, the report said.
The deputies were unable to determine a primary aggressor because of the conflicting statements. Due to the incident being domestic in nature, as well as both sisters getting into an altercation on the public roadway causing a public safety concern, both were transported to Lake County Jail with no further incident, the report said.
Putnam and Davis were both charged with simple battery (domestic). They were released on their own recognizance and are responsible for appearing in court on Dec. 10.