A cross-dressing homeless man was arrested after inflicting a huge bite mark on a man who was walking to the grocery store.
An officer responded to Best Value Inn, located at 1412 S 14th St., regarding a battery involving 57-year-old Dalton Hill around 3:35 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Upon arrival, police found an injured man who was waiting for medical care from Lake EMS. He said he was walking to Save-A-Lot when he was battered and bitten by Hill. The man suffered a large circular bite wound on his inner left forearm and scratches on his left collar area, the report said.
The bite was visibly swollen and bleeding while the scratches were several inches and red. Once Lake EMS got there, the victim was taken to UF Health Leesburg Hospital for further medical treatment. The officer followed the ambulance to the hospital for a statement and more details about what happened, the report said.
The victim explained that at about 3:15 p.m., he walked to Save-A-Lot, located at 1415 S 14th St., to buy goods. While walking in the parking lot, Hill noticed him and started quickly walking toward him while shouting derogatory names. He then threw a punch at the victim who was able to block it, the report said.
Hill tried to hit him multiple times, to which he defended himself and struck back. Hill proceeded to take out a black folding knife with yellow flames on it from his pocket and tried to stab him. The victim grabbed his arm and kept himself from being stabbed, the report said.
During this process, Hill bit his left forearm. He bit extremely hard and did not let go until the victim pushed him away. He noticed his arm was bleeding and ran home to seek medical attention, the report said.
Once home, he called 911 and noticed the scratches on his collar. He was familiar with Hill due to past encounters. Hill had stolen tools and a bicycle trailer from him in the past, the report said.
Officers tried to find Hill but were unsuccessful. However, they located the wooded area where he had a campsite set up. They also discovered several past battery convictions from Aug. 2011 and July 2014, as well as two prior arrests in the past six months, the report said.
Hill has been charged with aggravated battery (domestic) and aggravated assault with deadly weapon without intent to kill (domestic). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
The North Carolina native was also arrested in March and February for trespassing while wearing women’s clothes.