Duo Arrested in Tobacco Store Attack

Source from:  BY J.D.GALLOP FLORIDA TODAY  11/29/2007

Police arrested a mother and daughter this afternoon who they say beat and stabbed a 19-year-old pregnant woman with keys during a fight at a tobacco shop. Police charged Sadie Leakes, 41, and her 16-year-old daughter, with one felony count each of aggravated battery on a pregnant person after tracking down their identities, officials said. Both are behind bars tonight and will each face a judge Thursday, officials said. "The mother was the aggressor and was upset apparently with the victim because she was pregnant with the baby of the daughter's ex-boyfriend," said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department. "The female victim provided us with the first names of the suspects and we arrested the daughter at school today." Police also charged Leakes with contributing to the delinquency of a minor because of her role in the incident, according to officials. Police said the mother and daughter were at the Tobacco Store at 190 Malabar Road about 4:30 p.m. when they got into a confrontation with an unidentified 19-year-old. Police were called to the store where they found the victim with several injuries. She was taken to Palm Bay Community Hospital where she was treated for puncture wounds from keys used by the mother, Martinez said. The incident was also captured on video, police said. The daughter, who is not being identified because she is a juvenile, was arrested, booked and turned over to the Juvenile Detention Center. Leakes was arrested shortly afterward and taken to the Brevard County Jail Complex, where she remains held with a $5,000 bond, officials said. Enditem