Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jerry Leion Barber, 47, Navarre Monday and charged him with felony battery, resisting an officer, and obstructing justice (intimidating, threatening a victim) according to reports. Staggering, and bleeding heavily from the mouth, the deputy found the victim in the driveway wearing only underwear after responding to a family disturbance, reports said. The victim was able to indicate the attacker was inside the house, so the deputy entered and found Barber sitting in a chair, according to reports.
The reports said Barber sat smoking in silence as the deputy asked him what happened and asked him to stand up. When he didn’t comply, reports said the deputy grabbed Barber’s left wrist and stood him up and told him to place his hands behind his back. Barber cursed and asked why he was under arrest, reports said, and tried to pull away. The deputy took Barber to the ground and held him there with his knee on Barber’s back when Barber tried to get up. Reports said the deputy cuffed him, and placed him in the back of his patrol vehicle.
According to reports, Barber was arguing with the victim about his previous recent incarceration. Barber refused to be calmed and another resident, awakened by his voice, asked if he had been drinking again, reports said.
When the victim threatened to call 911, Barber went into a rage, according to reports, and attacked the victim, striking multiple times with a closed fist and breaking the cell phone. Reports said both the victim and other resident managed to take Barber to the ground and escaped to wait for the police to arrive.
According to reports, Barber left the victim with a laceration to the lower left lip requiring stitches, a possible fractured orbital socket, and swelling and bruising to the right lower jaw. Barber was taken to Santa Rosa County Jail and held without bond.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Uncontrolled rage becomes domestic violence