A Leesburg man was arrested for battery after allegedly punching a woman several times in the head while she bathed in a Leesburg motel.
Officers responded to Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndam Leesburg/Mt Dora, 9700 U.S. Hwy. 441, regarding a disturbance at around 4:50 a.m. Saturday, May 3, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. They met with the complainant who advised that the female victim was involved in an altercation with her boyfriend, 49-year-old Christopher Michael Teate, about 20 minutes prior.
An officer interviewed the victim who stated that between 12 and 4 a.m., she was in the motel room with Teate. She was in the bathtub when he came into the room. He was extremely angry and started verbally arguing with her, the report said.
Teate then punched the victim in the front of her head two times with his right fist. He flipped her around in the bathtub and struck her in the back of the head, as well. She locked herself in the bathroom and waited until she was able to leave the room, the report said.
During the interview, the officer observed redness and swelling on the victim’s forehead. Lake County Fire Rescue was called to give a medical assessment. She was ultimately taken to UF Health Leesburg Hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Ave., for further evaluation and treatment of her injuries, the report said.
The victim also advised that she and Teate had been living as a family for about six months, making the incident domestic in nature. He was found inside the motel room and detained in handcuffs, the report said.
The officers began gathering Teate’s things, and one of them noticed a scale with crystalline residue. A clear bag with more of it was found inside a zipper bag next to the scale, which tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 6 grams, the report said.
Teate was subsequently arrested on charges of simple battery (domestic), possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia (possess or use). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $8,500 bond.