A 25-year-old Wildwood woman allegedly threw a baseball-sized rock at a man during an argument over her parenting skills.
Samantha Corinne Neal, who lives at the Sundance Trails apartments at 5111 Spanish Harbor Drive, was taken into custody by the Wildwood Police Department on a charge of aggravated domestic battery.
According to the arrest report, the victim arrived home at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and attempted to discuss his concerns with Neal regarding “proper punishment and parenting skills” for her child. The conversation quickly escalated into a verbal altercation. When the victim decided to leave the apartment and walked toward a nearby staircase, Neal allegedly hurled the rock at him.
The rock struck the victim in the left leg, causing a small laceration. He declined emergency medical services at the scene.
Officers were able to review surveillance footage from a neighboring apartment. While the video did not show Neal physically throwing the rock, it captured the verbal dispute and showed the rock skipping off the ground and striking the victim. Police noted that based on the trajectory and accuracy of the throw, they believed the rock was intentionally aimed at the victim.
After being read her Miranda rights, Neal admitted to throwing the rock but insisted she did not mean to hit the man. She claimed the rock had been obstructing the front door and she nearly tripped over it while holding her child. She told officers she picked it up and chucked it outside out of frustration, not aiming it at the victim.
Neal was booked on a charge of aggravated assault at the Sumter County Detention Center. She was released after posting $200 bond.