Florida man is arrested after hitting his wife with a CHRISTMAS TREE after she asked him to help her with dinner

• Richard Atchison, 52, was arrested Monday around 7pm at his home in Fruitland 
• He faces several charges including false imprisonment and domestic battery
• Atchison became enraged when his wife asked for help in the kitchen
• He was held at the Lake County Jail on an $8,000 bond and bonded out Tuesday

A Florida man was arrested after bashing his wife with a Christmas tree after he became enraged when she asked him to help prepare dinner. 

Richard Daniel Atchison, 52, was arrested on Monday around 7pm on felony charges including false imprisonment, violation of an injunction and domestic battery, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com.

He was held at the Lake County Jail on an $8,000 bond in which he bonded out on Tuesday, Lakeland County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Fred Jones told DailyMail.com.

The disturbing incident occurred when Atchison ‘lost his temper’ after the couple got into an argument inside their Fruitland Park home. 

Atchison’s wife, 48, whose name was not released, told police she was making dinner when her husband became angry with her for asking for help. 

Richard Daniel Atchison, 52, was arrested on Monday around 7pm on felony charges including, false imprisonment and domestic battery, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com

Atchison was being held at the Lake County Jail on an $8,000 bond, in which he bonded out on Tuesday, a Lake County Police spokesperson told DailyMail.com

She said the pair started arguing, at which point she put a spoon in the sink and accidentally splashed him with water, making him more irate, according to the affidavit.

She said her spouse packed some belongings and went out to his car before returning and telling her to leave instead.

The victim told police that when she attempted to leave through the front door, Atchison used both hands and pushed her in her shoulder area away from the door, which made her stumble, the police report said.

Shaken by the events that just occurred, the victim went into the living room and sat with a friend who was visiting at the time. 

Shortly after, Atchison picked up the Christmas tree – located in the corner of the room – and threw it towards the kitchen area. The tree at that point had broken in half.

The suspect then picked up the broken tree and hurled it towards his wife, striking her, according to the affidavit.

The terrified wife then ran into a bedroom and closed the door, but Atchison followed and kicked the door as he tried to get in. 

The woman also told police she tried to run out of the home again but Atchison blocked her from leaving. He was still yelling at her by the time police arrived, according to the police report.

The arrest affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com shows Atchison’s three charges

Fruitland Park is described as a ‘quiet and tranquil community’ located just northeast of Orlando. It is called ‘The Friendly City,’ that is dotted with grand oak trees and is a blend of Old Florida and new, by some local experts 

Atchison told police that he and his wife were arguing, and she slammed a utensil into hot food that splashed the right side of his face.

He added that he ‘lost his temper’, and decided to leave. He’d packed clothes and made his way to his truck when he then decided to go back inside because he’d been drinking, and told his wife to leave instead.  

Athison then told police the fight with his wife was ‘verbal only and no physical contact was made that evening’, the report said. 

Emergency personnel were not called to the home the night of the incident, and there was no report of any injuries, the police spokesperson said.

This is not Atchison’s first arrest on domestic violence,  a police spokesperson told DailyMail.com that he has been in and out of the Lake County Jail a total of 23 times since 1997 on various violations including 5 for domestic violence.

‘Fruitland Park is described as a ‘quiet and tranquil community’ located just northeast of Orlando. It is called ‘The Friendly City,’ that is dotted with grand oak trees and is a blend of Old Florida and new, by some local experts. 

Source: Read Full Article