| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED By: MERRITT, JAMES 0757 (AR13-8254) DID UNLAWFULLY COMMIT BATTERY UPON THE VICTIM BY ACTUALLY AND INTENTIONALLY TOUCHING OR STRIKING SAID PERSON AGAINST SAID PERSON'S WILL, OR BY INTENTIONALLY CAUSING BODILY HARM, TO WIT: PUSHED THE VICTIM AGAINST THE WALL, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 784.03(1)(A)(1); AND DID UNLAWFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY THREATEN BY WORD OR ACT TO DO VIOLENCE TO THE VICTIM, COUPLED WITH AN APPARENT ABILITY TO CARRY OUT SAID THREAT, DID AN ACT OR ACTS WHICH CREATED A WELL-FOUNDED FEAR IN THE VICTIM THAT SUCH VIOLENCE WAS IMMINENT, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 784.011; AND DID UNLAWFULLY RESIST, OBSTRUCT OR OPPOSE DEPUTY JAMES MERRITT, WHO WAS THEN AND THERE IN THE LAWFUL EXECUTION OF A LEGAL DUTY, OR EXECUTION OF LEGAL PROCESS, TO WIT: REFUSED TO PRODUCE HIS HAND FOR HANDCUFFING, WITHOUT OFFERING OR DOING VIOLENCE TO THE PERSON OF SUCH OFFICER, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 843.02. ON 120813, I RESPONDED TO 10251 SOUTH COVINGTON TERRACE, HOMOSASSA, IN REFERENCE TO A DISTURBANCE. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, MS VIRGINIA ROBERTSON, JUST OUTSIDE HER RESIDENCE. THE VICTIM STATED SHE BELIEVED HER ROOMMATE/SUSPECT, MR WILLIAM SEXTON, WAS IN HIS BEDROOM. THE VICTIM STATED WHEN she ARRIVED HOME JUST AFTER CHURCH; HER ROOMMATE OF 20 YEARS APPEARED VERY INTOXICATED. THE VICTIM STATED HE HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL THIS MORNING (120813) AND WAS ALREADY ACTING OUT THE SAME WAY HE DID YESTERDAY (120713). THE VICTIM STATED SHE OBSERVED INJURIES ON HIS ARMS AND KNUCKLES AND ASKED IF HE HAD BEEN HITTING SOMETHING. THE VICTIM STATED SHE ASKED IF HE NEEDED HELP AND OFFERED TO TAKE HIM TO REHAB OR A TREATMENT CENTER. THE VICTIM STATED HIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE VICTIM STATED THAT DURING THE CONVERSATION SHE ASKED HIM IF HE WAS TRYING TO KILL HIMSELF. THE DEFENDANT WAS VERBALLY HOSTILE AND BEGAN TO THREATEN THE VICTIM. THE VICTIM STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT FIRST MENTIONED CUTTING HIMSELF, BUT THEN BEGAN THREATENING TO CUT HER. THE VICTIM STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT TOLD HER HE HAD A KNIFE IN THE TOP DRESSER DRAWER AND WAS GOING TO KILL HER. THE VICTIM SAID AT THAT MOMENT THEY WERE IN HIS BEDROOM WHERE THE DRESSER WAS ACCESSIBLE. THE VICTIM SAID SHE WAS VERY AFRAID OF THE DEFENDANT BECAUSE HAD NEVER THREATENED HER LIFE BEFORE. THE VICTIM STATED THE DEFENDANT SHOVED HER IN THE CHEST AGAINST THE WALL AND THEN SLAMMED HIS OWN FIST IN THE WALL BESIDE HER WHILE CONTINUING TO THREATEN HER. THE VICTIM STATED SHE IMMEDIATELY FLED FROM THE ROOM AND THE DEFENDANT BEGAN TO CHASE AFTER HER TOWARDS HER BEDROOM, WHICH IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RESIDENCE. THE VICTIM STATED ONCE SHE GOT INTO HER ROOM SHE CLOSED THE DOOR AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VICTIM ADVISED HE BEGAN BEATING ON THE WALLS THREATENING TO BREAK DOWN THE DOOR AND YELLING PROFANITIES. THE VICTIM STATED SHE FELT TRAPPED AND AFRAID. THE VICTIM STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT THEN RETURNED TO HIS ROOM AND CONTINUED YELLING FOR A SHORT TIME. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT IN HIS ROOM. HE WAS SITTING IN A CHAIR BETWEEN HIS BED AND A WALL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INTERVIEW THE DEFENDANT, I DETECTIVE A STRONG ODOR OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMING FROM HIS PERSON. THE DEFENDANT HAD BLOODSHOT WATERY EYES AND SLURRED speech AND APPEARED INTOXICATED. THE DEFENDANT WAS EXTREMELY BELLIGERENT ADVISING HE WAS DRUNK IN HIS OWN âFUCKINGâ HOUSE. THE DEFENDANT THEN INSTRUCTED ME âGET THE FUCK OUTâ OF HIS HOUSE. THE DEFENDANT WAS VERBALLY COMBATIVE AS I WAS PLACING HIM UNDER ARREST FOR THE ASSAULT AND BATTERY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE HANDCUFFS ON THE DEFENDANT, HE STIFFENED HIS BODY AND REFUSED TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND WAS PLACED ON HIS STOMACH ACROSS HIS BED. THE DEFENDANT REFUSED TO PRODUCE HIS LEFT ARM, WHICH HE KEPT UNDER HIS BODY. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL HIS ARM FROM UNDER HIS BODY TO PLACE HIM IN HANDCUFFS (DOUBLE LOCKED) BEHIND HIS BACK. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN ESCORTED TO MY PATROL VEHICLE WHERE HE WAS PLACED IN THE REAR SEAT. I PROVIDED THE VICTIM WITH AN AGENCY CASE CARD BEARING MY NAME AND IDENTIFICATION. I PROVIDED HER WITH A VICTIMâS RIGHTS PAMPHLET. I LATER COLLECTED THE VICTIMâS SWORN STATEMENT AND SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK INTO RECORDS. WHILE TRANSPORTING THE DEFENDANT HE CONTINUED TO BE VERBALLY COMBATIVE AND BEGAN SPITTING ON THE INTERIOR DOORS AND WINDOWS OF MY ASSIGNED PATROL VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVAL TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY, THE DEFENDANT CONTINUED TO REFUSE TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS AND CONTINUED TO SPIT AT THE PATROL VEHICLE AND ALSO IN A CORRECTIONAL OFFICERâS DIRECTION. THE DEFENDANTâS TOTAL BOND WAS SET AT $1,250.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
