On Monday, March 14, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the block of 39300 North McAree Road, Beach Park, for an unknown problem. A 911 caller, who was not on scene, reported a man was attempting to break into her mother’s home.
The first Lake County sheriff’s deputy arrived and observed Joe D. Fontanez-Marrero, 42, of the 39300 block of North McAree Road, Beach Park, exiting the residence. Fontanez-Marrero saw the deputy and immediately ran southbound from the scene. The sheriff’s deputy pursued Fontanez-Marrero on foot and while chasing him, Fontanez-Marrero threw what appeared to be a knife.
The deputy was able to catch up and apprehend Fontanez-Marrero, although he resisted arrest. Further investigation revealed Fontanez-Marrero and the victim, a 40-year-old woman who lived at the residence, had been in a previous dating relationship. Due to a previous argument, Fontanez-Marrero was not staying at the residence. He came back just before 7:45 p.m. and could not get into the home, so he forced entry to a door to get inside and attacked the victim. Once inside, Fontanez-Marrero smashed the victim’s cellphone to prevent her from calling for help, however she had already notified her daughter who in turn dialed 911.
Fontanez-Marrero told the victim he was going to kill her. He punched, kicked, and choked the victim. He then located a pair of scissors which he broke into two pieces, to use as a knife. He held the knife against the victim’s stomach area and again threatened to kill her. At that time the first deputy arrived and Fontanez-Marrero fled from the scene.
The victim sustained multiple bruises and a cut to the area Fontanez-Marrero held the blade to her, she was evaluated by paramedics but declined to go to the hospital at the time. The sheriff’s deputy who took Fontanez-Marrero into custody sustained minor abrasions during the apprehension.
After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charges of aggravated domestic battery with strangulation, resisting arrest causing injury, and two counts of domestic battery.
Fontanez-Marrero remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing this morning.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “If it were not for the quick response and quick actions of our first deputy at the scene, this situation could have ended in tragedy for the victim. The members of the sheriff’s office will always be there to help victims in their time of need and to arrest the offenders responsible.”
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
