Lakeland — A Lakeland man who stood up in his sunroof with his car on cruise control while driving down I-4 was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol on Tuesday, not only for his wreckless driving, but also for a Polk County Sheriff’s Office warrant for domestic violence.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies had made contact with 70-year-old Leonard Olsen by phone on Tuesday, and he agreed to turn himself in to the PCSO Northwest District substation on Wedgewood Estates Boulevard in North Lakeland, according to reports. But while the deputies were on their way to meet him, they noticed the FHP had pulled him over.
After he was booked into the South County Jail, deputies served the PCSO warrant for felony domestic violence.
The domestic violence was reported to have started on April 30, when Olsen allegedly became upset with the victim for taking too long to come to bed. Once she was in bed, he began calling her names and blaring the music so she could not sleep, according to reports.
Olsen then reached over and choked the victim, according to his arrest affidavit. In pain and though her breathing was restricted, according to reports, she was eventually able to push Olsen away and they went to bed without further incident. The following day, she had a hoarse voice and had bruising on her neck.
On Sunday, May 5, during the evening hours, the victim returned from dinner with her daughter and grandchild. As she began changing into her pajamas to get ready for bed, she came out of the bathroom to see Olsen ripping apart the dress she had been wearing. Olsen then allegedly called her vulgar names and accused her of having an affair. Then Olsen asked where her bra was located, and when she did not initially give him the bra, he threatened to destroy every bra in her dresser if she did not give it to him, according to his arrest affidavit. Once she gave him the bra, he also tore that apart and then asked where her underwear was that she had been wearing and when she said she was still wearing it, he allegedly began pulling on them in a violent fashion.
According to his arrest affidavit, Olsen continued to yell vulgarities at her and played the music loudly so she could not fall asleep, for several hours.
On Monday, May 6, about 6 a.m., Olsen woke up and began slamming dresser drawers, turning the lights on and off, and turning on the music, waking up the victim, according to PCSO reports released to the media Saturday afternoon.
Since the victim could not fall back asleep, she went into the bathroom and began listening to a motivational verse on her cellphone, which was on the bathroom counter. Olsen allegedly walked into the bathroom, took her cellphone and put it in his pocket. The victim followed Olsen into the bedroom to try to get her cellphone back.
According to his arrest affidavit, Olsen reached out and pushed the victim, causing her to fall onto the bed, then straddled the victim by placing one hand on her upper arm and one hand on her throat.
The victim was able to push Olsen’s hand off her throat, but then he allegedly placed his thumb in the victim’s mouth, which she bit. Once the victim bit Olsen, he moved off of the victim, according to his arrest affidavit.
At this point, Olsen then allegedly blocked the bedroom door, and refused to move at first. Later, Olsen left the residence and the victim called law enforcement to report the incident.
Olsen and the victim have three children in common and have been together 47 years.
Olsen is being held on $21,000 bond at Polk County Jail, $5,000 per PCSO domestic violence charge, and $1,000 per the FHP charge.
Kathy Leigh Berkowitz can be reached at kberkowitz@theledger.com or at 863-802-7558. Follow her on Twitter @kberkowitzthel1.
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