A new mom who claimed to want a night out and her live-in boyfriend found themselves behind bars Thursday after a violent confrontation.
When officers arrived at the couple’s Ocala residence, 31-year-old Crystal M. Harper was crying and had blood on her right ankle. Officers asked her what had happened and she said she had been arguing with her boyfriend, 25-year-old William G. Edwards, because she wanted to “go hang out with friends,” an Ocala Police report states.
Harper said she had given birth about a month ago and needed to get out of the house. She claimed that during the argument, Edwards was slapping her right wrist and poking her in the face. And she accused him of throwing things around the house and at her foot, which was how her ankle was injured, the report says.
Harper claimed that Edwards continued to slap her on the wrist so she decided to defend herself and fight back. She told deputies that her children were in their bedroom and didn’t see the confrontation. She said a friend witnessed the altercation but had taken the children and left the residence, the report says.
Officers asked Harper to call the friend back to the house and while they were waiting for her, they spoke with Edwards. He claimed that he had been sleeping but was awakened by Harper’s daughter to find out what time he was supposed to go to work.
Edwards said Harper knew when he was had to be at work but “just wanted to know because she wanted to go out.” He said she didn’t need to go out and could stay home with the children. And he said he was trying to get ready for work and leave but Harper wouldn’t let him, the report says.
Edwards, who had abrasions on the right side of his chest, denied slapping Edwards on the wrist. He said Harper “nudged him in the head” during the argument so he threw a curtain rod at her but did not hit her with it. He said Harper then rushed him and started hitting him and he grabbed Harper by the hair, the report says.
The friend confirmed that she was present during the altercation but didn’t want to be involved. An officer said he just wanted to know who hit who first and the friend said she didn’t know, the report says.
The friend also told officers that Edwards didn’t need to go to jail. She said that he threw the curtain rod at Harper after she nudged him. And she said she was trying to keep the couple separated, the report says.
Harper’s sister agreed to temporarily take custody of the children and an officer spoke with them and then reported the incident to the Department of Children and Families. Domestic violence packets were presented to Harper and Edwards and they were then taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, the report says.
Both Harper and Edwards were charged with domestic battery and held on $500 bonds. They both are due in court on July 18 to answer to the charges.