A Sebring man was arrested for battery after allegedly punching a man who stepped between him and the staff at LifeStream.
Officers responded to LifeStream, located at 2020 Tally Rd., regarding a battery at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Upon arrival, the male victim told them that 33-year-old Cruze Antonio Cromwell was being verbally aggressive with staff.
He stepped in between Cromwell and the staff in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, but Cromwell proceeded to punch him in the face. He sustained a small cut on the right side of his chin and was taken by EMS to UF Health Leesburg Hospital, located at 600 E Dixie Ave., the report said.
A female witness added that she observed Cromwell in the day room yelling racial slurs. The victim approached him, at which time Cromwell told him to move. He was then punched in the face, the report said.
A second female witness heard Cromwell getting mad because he was trying to get into a rehab program. The victim went up to him, only for him to get about 4 inches away from the victim’s face. Cromwell told him to get “away” from his face before punching him, the report said.
An officer later spoke to Cromwell’s doctor, who stated he was in a mental state where he could comprehend what was happening. A check of his criminal history revealed four prior battery convictions, the report said.
Cromwell was ultimately arrested on Wednesday morning on charge of battery (prior conviction). He was booked at Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
He was also arrested in May 2022 when deputies used a GPS to track him down in a stolen vehicle.