A Dunnellon teen was arrested for battery after allegedly scratching her boyfriend during an argument.
Officers responded to the undisclosed residence of 19-year-old Jacqueline Lee Van De Velde and her boyfriend of several months around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Dispatch had received two calls, one of which got hung up and the other sounded like a disturbance.
Upon arrival, the officers spoke with the boyfriend, who had multiple long, fresh scratches on both his arms and neck. He advised that the couple had been living together for a few weeks, but an argument started that morning over when Van De Velde would be leaving due to her moving out. At that point, she asked for all the belongings she had bought him, which he denied, the report said.
Van De Velde then walked over to the boyfriend and tried to take his phone away from him. He pulled away and was scratched on his arms in the process. When he tried to walk away, she grabbed his shirt collar and scratched his neck, the report said.
During her interview, Van De Velde confirmed the couple was arguing over her leaving the property. She asked for her phone back, to which he began yelling at her. He did not stop when asked, so she called law enforcement. She denied anything physical happening, the report said.
Two juveniles at the residence stated they did not see anything physical, but they both heard Van De Velde say, “Give me my money.”
Van De Velde was subsequently arrested on charge of simple battery (domestic). The New Jersey native was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $500 bond.