A Leesburg man was arrested for battery after allegedly attacking his foster brother for talking about him over several days.
An officer responded to a disturbance at an undisclosed Lake County residence around 7:33 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with the victim sitting outside the residence, the report said. He advised that 24-year-old John Henry Sims, his foster brother who he lived with as a family, came out of his bedroom and advanced at him, stating, “I’m going to kill you.”
The victim was in the kitchen talking with his foster mother when this happened. As Sims came at the victim, he grabbed him by the neck and punched him with a closed fist. He struck the victim in the face and then took him to the ground, the report said.
The officer next spoke with the victim’s foster mother who also stated Sims came out of the bedroom and approached the victim. He yelled and began to strike him with a closed fist, the report said.
The officer proceeded to make contact with Sims who was sitting in the living room. He explained that he told the victim to stop talking about him for the past several days. Because the victim did not stop, he came out of his room and beat him up, the report said.
Due to Sims’ statement and visible injuries, the officer was able to conclude he was the primary aggressor. He arrested Sims for simple battery (domestic) and transported him to Lake County Jail. Bond was set at $2,500.