A Wildwood woman was arrested for battery after allegedly hitting her roommate in the face with a gift box during an argument over Christmas presents.
Officers responded to Peppertree Apartments, located at 3738 Pepper Tree Lane, when the roommate of 40-year-old Stacey Marie Sawenok threatened to harm himself with a knife around 7:20 a.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department.
The two were separated before the officers asked Sawenok what was going on between her and her roommate, who the report noted suffers from PTSD and was off his medications. She started by saying they were arguing over money and Christmas presents. Moments later, when telling the story, she stated, “I hit him first with a gift box.”
She explained the roommate slapped her on the face but only after she struck him first, later saying she did so because he was being “mean.” He then followed her into a bedroom where he pushed her into the corner of the room. She went into the restroom and shut the door without locking it, to which he headbutted the door and kicked it down, the report said.
At that point, Sawenok tried to call the police, but the roommate attempted to grab the phone from her. He subsequently called law enforcement himself and made statements of wanting to harm himself with a knife. She described how he had a knife in his hand during this time and only made threatening actions toward himself, the report said.
The roommate corroborated her statement, adding he woke up in a bad mood over his living conditions. He had gotten into a verbal argument with Sawenok when she hit him with the gift box. He slapped her, and they continued to fight as he went to his room to gather his things to leave, the report said.
She continued getting in his face and arguing with him. When she went into the restroom, he was in an emotional state and headbutted the door, breaking it down. He argued with her some more until he grabbed a knife and put it to his throat, threatening to harm himself, the report said.
Sawenok was arrested on charge of battery and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center. She was released after posting $500 bond.