A former Clermont couple was arrested for battering each other during an argument over custody of their son.
An officer responded to the home of 43-year-old Dwayne Carlotta Edwards on Valley Ridge Loop for a disturbance involving his ex-girlfriend, 28-year-old Angel Symone Brown, around 8:40 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. Brown advised that someone in the residence was keeping their shared son hostage.
Upon arrival, the officer heard a disturbance coming from inside the home and saw the front door slightly ajar. He got closer to hear the occuapnts say law enforcement had come. He then opened the door to see Brown in a heated argument with the homeowners, the report said.
She appeared extremely agitated and argumentative, so the officer instructed all parties to step outside. His initial attempts were unsuccessful due to Brown’s noncompliance. At one point, he raised his voice and commanded they all exit the residence before he could investigate, the report said.
Once everyone was outside, Brown immediately started arguing with Edwards. He was subsequently separated from the group to prevent further escalation, the report said.
Edwards began his account by showing the officer 17 missed calls from Brown. He had recently returned to Florida from California and had been staying at his parents’ place with his current partner, the report said.
Earlier that morning, he was awakened by Brown banging on and kicking the front door of the home. She demanded to see their son, who she knew was staying with Edwards’s parents, too. They shared equal custody of the child, the report said.
When Brown entered their son’s room, she forcibly pushed past Edwards. This injured his lip and left a scratch above his left elbow, the report said.
But Brown later advised that during the altercation, Edwards used his arm to put her in a chokehold. He forcibly pushed her away to prevent her from going into their son’s bedroom, the report said.
However, Ring camera footage provided by the homeowners showed Brown repeatedly trying to get into the home by aggressively banging on and kicking the front door. She was determined to be the primary aggressor, although Edwards engaged in mutual combat with her. They continued to argue despite the presence of law enforcement, the report said.
Edwards and Brown were ultimately arrested on charge of battery (domestic) and booked at Lake County Jail. The former was released on his own recognizance, while the latter posted $1,000 bond.