An Orlando roommate dispute that started with bleach and ended with a cooking pot left one man injured and a woman in handcuffs, according to deputies.
The confrontation unfolded around 1:40 a.m. on March 31 at an apartment on South Parramore Avenue, then spilled over to a nearby residence on Quill Avenue. By the time it was over, one roommate had a knot and small laceration on the right side of his head, and five windows at the Quill Avenue home were smashed, with damage estimated at roughly $1,000.
Deputies describe how the late-night clash escalated
Orange County deputies say 52-year-old Richard Damarick Mitchell told them he was packing to leave the South Parramore apartment when 45-year-old Lashawanda Denise Boyce allegedly threw bleach on him. Mitchell initially declined to press charges, but that did not end the dispute.
According to deputies, about 20 minutes later, Mitchell went to 723 Quill Avenue. Boyce allegedly followed, found a cooking pot and used it to smash five windows at the residence before striking Mitchell on the right side of his head, then took off on foot. Deputies say they later found her nearby and arrested her. These details were reported by WFTV.
Felony threshold could raise the stakes
Under Florida law, criminal mischief is charged according to the value and nature of the property damage. When the total climbs to $1,000 or more, it is treated as a third-degree felony. Per Florida Statute §806.13, damage at or above that threshold can trigger felony penalties and restitution.
Aggravated battery - the other charge reported in this case - is defined under Florida Statute §784.045 as a battery that causes great bodily harm or involves a deadly weapon and is punishable as a second-degree felony.
What comes next in the case
Boyce was booked into the Orange County Jail on counts of aggravated battery and criminal mischief, and prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges.
Deputies say Mitchell told them he did not initially want to pursue charges over the bleach incident but changed his mind after the confrontation on Quill Avenue. According to their account, they arrested Boyce shortly after locating her in the area. The incident and arrest were first reported by WFTV.
