A 26-year-old Fruitland Park man was arrested after he allegedly used a wrench to break out the windows of a truck Monday night in front of his wife and three young children.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy had been called to Eagles Nest Road to investigate a report of battery. The deputy was told that James Roy McPeters had forcibly pulled his wife from a truck before using the wrench to break out the windows, stating, “If I can’t drive it, no one can.” He also was accused of ripping a CD/DVD player out of the dashboard.
When the wife threatened to call the sheriff’s office, McPeters allegedly yelled at the children, telling them not to speak with law enforcement officers. He then fled with two of the children in the truck. He later had another friend return the children to their mother.
McPeters was found sleeping at a friend’s residence in Fruitland Park and arrested.
He is facing charges of battery, criminal damage to property, child abuse and tampering with a witness.
He was booked at the Lake County Jail where bond was set at $20,500.
