A Lake County man was arrested for battery after allegedly choking his wife until his son knocked him off so they could flee.
Deputies responded to a battery complaint involving 40-year-old Kyle Brandon Knight at 4436 Clark Rd., Fruitland Park, around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the deputies met with Knight’s sister-in-law who advised that he and his wife were having a verbal argument at the residence. The altercation escalated to the point that she, her father and nephew refused to allow Knight to come inside. He then fled from the area in a red Toyota SUV, the report said.
Contact was made with Knight’s son moments later. He stated they were at their undisclosed residence when an argument broke out between his parents. His mother was walking away from Knight toward their bedroom to avoid more confrontation when he pushed her onto the bed and choked her, the report said.
Fearing for their safety, Knight’s son struck him in the face with a closed fist, throwing his father to the bedroom floor so his mother could get away. He and his mother ran out of the home at that point and jumped into their vehicle, which was how they got to Fruitland Park, the report said.
Now having this information, the deputies spoke with Knight’s wife who was crying uncontrollably. She stated she did not want him to go to jail multiple times during the conversation. She ultimately admitted that there was a verbal altercation in which Knight choked her, the report said.
One of the deputies called Knight to see if he would like to give a statement. He started off the conversation very aggressively but later apologized for his demeanor. He advised that earlier in the night, his son hit him in the face, and the reason he followed his wife and son to Fruitland Park was to discuss what happened. The entire argument started because his son allegedly broke the windshield of their Chrysler minivan but never admitted to it, the report said.
Knight was ultimately arrested at 11:40 that night in the Walmart parking lot, located at 2501 U.S. Hwy. 27, Leesburg. The New York native was charged with domestic battery (second or subsequent offense) with an additional charge for violating his probation in a separate battery case. He was transported to Lake County Jail to be held without bond.