A 32-year-old man is facing multiple charges after police say he positioned his face near a 9-year-old girl's buttocks and inhaled inside a Little Havana Dollar Tree, then fought with officers who tried to take him into custody. Javan Curry Battle was arrested Monday and now faces counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child and resisting an officer with violence.
The girl and her mother had gone to the Dollar Tree at 1043 West Flagler Street to pick up materials for a school project, according to nbcmiami.com, which reported that surveillance video showed Battle putting his face toward the girl's buttocks area and inhaling. The girl told investigators Battle touched her around the arm before sniffing her, and she said she felt air on her lower back. As detailed by WSVN 7News, the girl had been sent to a different aisle by her mother to grab cardboard when Battle, who did not know her, approached from behind.
Girl Fled to Her Mother After Realizing What Happened
Once she realized what had happened, the girl ran back to her mother for safety, per WSVN's reporting. An arrest report cited in the same account states that Battle leaned his pelvic area toward the girl as she walked away and appeared unable to make contact with her as she quickly left the area. Investigators say Battle followed the girl but did not make contact with her.
The store manager reviewed the surveillance footage and contacted authorities, according to WSVN. Officers with the Miami Police Little Havana Problem Solving Team responded to the store and detained Battle there.
Officers Injured Trying to Take Battle Into Custody
The arrest did not go smoothly. Officers said Battle pushed both of them and tried to run before he was subdued, and the same account describes him dragging one officer before he was finally taken into custody. Both officers were later taken to a local hospital — one for a sprained finger and the other because he was exposed to Battle's blood, the outlet reported.
Battle was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, per WSVN. Asked about his actions, Battle told investigators he had placed his face toward the girl's buttocks because he was under the influence of marijuana, according to the account relayed by nbcmiami.com.
Judge Sets Bond, House Arrest and Stay-Away Order
A judge found probable cause and ordered Battle held under house arrest with GPS monitoring, or an alternate bond of $2,500 on the lewd and lascivious conduct charge, according to nbcmiami.com's report. The resisting charge carries a separate $2,500 bond. Conditions of his release reportedly include staying away from the girl and the Dollar Tree store, along with an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
