A Leesburg teen who was taken to jail in March received another charge for allegedly slapping her cellmate.
Bre’Azanea Na’Shay Tolbert, 18, was arrested on March 25 after plunging into Lake Eustis to avoid law enforcement. Her charges, including no driver’s license (never had one), resisting without violence, underage possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams), have kept her at Lake County Jail without bond.
She was still in jail at 3:25 a.m. Tuesday, when a deputy responded to an argument between her and a cellmate over moving rooms. Tolbert started calling her names and then became physical. She got on top of her cellmate to straddle her midsection while she was in her bed on the bottom bunk, the report said.
Tolbert proceeded to grab her shirt collar, put both hands around her neck and slapped her face with her right hand. She told the cellmate that if she tried to get up, she would beat her. The cellmate repeatedly told her to get off and eventually pushed her away, the report said.
The cellmate then went to the cell door and waited for a correctional officer. Tolbert threatened to accuse her of sexual misconduct and “end her life” if she said anything. The cellmate still asked the officer to let her out of her cell. She sustained red markings on her neck and chest, the report said.
Another cellmate in the top bunk told law enforcement that she heard the two inmates arguing, which escalated from whispering to loud voices. She heard movement on the bed but did not see an altercation. She added that Tolbert had anger issues and “goes from zero to a hundred real fast.” She also described prior incidents where Tolbert slapped the bottom-bunk cellmate, leaving bruises, the report said.
However, Tolbert advised that the cellmate had been making “slick” and sexual comments for two weeks, the report said. These included threats of self-harm if she left the room. She also accused Tolbert of talking about her with the bottom-bunk cellmate, saying, “That’s your new best friend…I hate you.”
Tolbert claimed the cellmate grabbed her own neck and blocked the door to prevent her from leaving. She denied any physical contact and stated they were only arguing. When asked about the cellmate’s injuries, she denied causing them and said she already had marks, the report said.
Jail security footage did not capture the altercation, but it showed the cellmate approaching the cell door. This was consistent with her statement, the report said.
Tolbert was ultimately charged with battery on a detained person. She will remain at the Lake County Jail without bond.