A Clermont man was arrested after allegedly trapping a woman in a laundry room and chasing children around with a handgun.
An officer responded to a Department of Children and Families investigation, later found to involve 35-year-old Eddy Betancourt, at an undisclosed Clermont location around 3:37 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer made contact with a DCF investigator. She advised that she responded in reference to allegations made by a female juvenile to her school therapist, the report said.
The investigator conducted an interview and was told that from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, the juvenile’s mother and Betancourt were arguing over his drinking while she was there with her siblings. During this three-hour period, Betancourt pushed the juvenile’s mother, chased them around the house with a “small gun” and locked her mother in the laundry room. The investigator took the report and requested law enforcement for a follow-up investigation at the home, the report said.
At the home, the officer stayed inside with Betancourt while the investigator spoke with an undisclosed person outside. The investigator then came inside to question Betancourt. He did not wish to speak about what happened the night before in detail, the report said.
The investigator asked Betancourt if he locked the juvenile’s mother in the laundry room, and he admitted he did for about 10 minutes. He was also asked if he pushed her to which he said she came after him, so he pushed her away. However, he denied chasing his family around with a gun and declined to write a statement, the report said.
After the investigator interviewed Betancourt, she showed the officer a video of the incident. It showed Betancourt chasing an undisclosed person or persons around the home while they screamed. He then leaned down and racked the slide of a small handgun a couple times, the report said.
Betancourt began drinking, and an argument ensued. The juvenile’s mother stated he threw an avocado at the back of her head, so she threw his clothing on the ground. He then locked her in the laundry room by pushing the refrigerator in front of the door, the report said.
After she was let out, Betancourt told the juvenile’s mother he was going to kill her. He retrieved his small handgun from the closet and began chasing her and the children around the house. She alleged that he pushed her to the ground, as well, the report said.
The investigator made it known to Betancourt that there was a video of the gun incident. He then admitted he had an anger issue and made a mistake. He did not elaborate or make any further statements regarding the incident, the report said.
Betancourt was subsequently arrested on charges of domestic battery, four counts of aggravated assault with deadly weapon, false imprisonment and three counts of child abuse. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $31,000.