Holmes Beach police arrested resident Stephanie Schmitt, 45, Jan. 20 on a second-degree felony for aggravated domestic battery involving a relative.
Two officers responded Jan. 19 to reports of a domestic disturbance and found a man who said Schmitt was intoxicated and attacked him for recording her during an argument.
The man said Schmitt struck him several times and hit him with a wooden board. The officer observed a laceration on his cheek.
The man provided a written statement and video of the incident but said he did not want to press charges.
An officer gave the man a case number and a victim’s rights brochure.
The officer also searched the area but could not find Schmitt, so he began filing a capias request for her arrest.
However, police were dispatched the next day to the home of Schmitt’s boyfriend, who told officers she came home the night before intoxicated and locked herself in a room.
He said his cellphone and vehicle keys were locked in the room with Schmitt, who was not responding to him.
The man allowed the officers to enter the home and they attempted to pry open the door, but Schmitt held it closed from the inside and would not respond to questions.
The officers confirmed Schmitt’s involvement in the felony battery the night before, although the capias request had not been finalized, and set about to remove the door.
One officer removed the pins from the door hinges and opened the door, at which point Schmitt tried to escape out a back door, but a second officer was waiting outside.
The officers arrested Schmitt, who physically resisted, and transported her to the Manatee County jail.
During transport, Schmitt threatened the officer and threatened family members with physical violence, according to a police report.
She was released Jan. 21 after posting a $7,500 bond.
If convicted, a second-degree felony charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation and a $10,000 fine.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. February 11, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.