A couple in Leesburg were both arrested after getting into an argument that caused a woman to pepper spray her daughter’s father, resulting in harm on him and on the toddler.
According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2016 Kosciusko County Dispatch received a call from Randy Avery in Leesburg who claimed a woman came to his apartment and sprayed pepper spray, allegedly causing his two-year-old child to have difficulty breathing.
An officer from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call and found a female identified as Stephanie Gulley, 28, Leesburg, sitting in a vehicle at the home. Gulley told the officer she came to the apartment to visit her daughter. She said she and Avery got into an argument, when he grabbed her by her hair, hit her on the right side of her face and dragged her off of the bed she was lying on with their daughter.
Gulley said then she pepper sprayed Avery in the face and left the apartment.
She told police the side of her face hurt and she felt pain in her scalp where her hair had been pulled. The officer observed her hair looked as though she had been grabbed by the hair.
The deputy went to the apartment and smelled the odor of pepper spray and could feel the respiratory effect still lingering in the air inside the apartment.
The deputy spoke with Avery whose eyes and face were flush from the pepper spray. Avery told police Gulley arrived unannounced, went to his bedroom with their daughter and the two got in a verbal argument. Gulley then grabbed the pepper spray and sprayed it in the air. Then, she sprayed Avery in the face, according the affidavit of probable cause on the case.
Avery said he grabbed Gulley from behind and bear hugged her to stop the spray. Avery was coughing as a result of the pepper spray when being interviewed by police.
Avery was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Dec. 23, 2016 and charged with felony domestic battery in the presence of a child under the age of 16. His bond was set at $6,000.
Gulley was arrested this week for the altercation and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Tuesday, Jan. 10. She was charged with felony domestic battery in the presence of a child and a misdemeanor charge of driving while suspended.
A no contact order with Avery was also filed with the county prosecutor’s office against Gulley. Her bond was set at $6,450.
