When a man and his cousin got into a dispute about whether almond milk or cow’s milk was better, he allegedly used a pocket knife to stab his relative when the fight turned physical.
Around 2:00 pm on September 27, Justin Garcia was hanging out with his cousin inside a residence in Lehigh Acres, Florida, which is an unincorporated area situated approximately 15-miles from Fort Myers.
While their uncle worked on a car in the driveway, the men reportedly started to debate whether almond milk was preferable to whole milk, and their differing opinions turned into a dispute between the cousins.
The men reportedly began yelling at each other, and Garcia allegedly elevated the fight into the physical realm by throwing a closed-fist blow at his cousin’s head.
The alleged victim responded by punching Garcia in the shoulder, which reportedly caused the man to take out a pocket knife.
With his cousin fleeing through the yard, Garcia allegedly trailed behind while wielding the blade.
When Garcia reportedly advanced on his cousin, he allegedly used the knife on the man and left a small cut on his upper body.
The uncle jumped and kept the men apart until law enforcement from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home.
A deputy took statements from the three men at the scene, and the uncle of the men said that he could hear the men disagreeing about the milk and took charge when he believed one of them had been injured.
When speaking with Garcia, he allegedly waived his right to remain silent and told the deputy that he was acting in self-defense because his cousin tried to assault him with a stick.
According to the police report, Garcia allegedly began to bicker with his cousin during his discussion with the police before stating that he felt the problem was “a family matter that they handled.”
Garcia was placed under arrest and booked into the county jail. He is facing charges for suspicion of felony aggravated battery.
After two days, Garcia was released from custody on a $25.000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.