An 18-year-old Homestead man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after what started as a squabble over food inside a private home on Sunday escalated into an alleged knife threat, according to police. Authorities identified the suspect as 18-year-old Brian Borja, who is accused of aggravated assault and battery in the incident.
What police say happened
Officers were called shortly before 12:50 p.m. after a report that a man had been punched in the face and threatened with a knife, according to WSVN. The station, citing the arrest affidavit, reports that Borja armed himself with a kitchen knife and told the victim, "I’ma put you in the dark," allegedly repeating that he would kill him.
The victim told officers the knife had a black handle and a serrated blade and directed them to where it had been left inside the home, according to the affidavit quoted by WSVN.
How the argument started
Investigators say the trouble began in the kitchen when Borja started drinking juice that belonged to the other man, then grabbed the victim’s plate and threw it to the floor. A physical struggle followed, and Borja allegedly punched the victim on the left side of the face with a closed fist, according to the affidavit.
The victim ran out of the residence through the front door and called police, WSVN reports.
Charges and legal context
Borja was arrested on counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery, according to the arrest affidavit cited by WSVN.
Under Florida law, an assault carried out "with a deadly weapon" is classified as aggravated assault and treated as a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Senate. Battery is generally a first-degree misdemeanor, as laid out in Justia, though penalties can increase if serious injury or other circumstances are involved.
