17-Year-Old Arrested for Battery, Vandalism

A 17-year-old boy was arrested for vandalism and simple battery after a domestic dispute erupted with his stepfather. 

Last Tuesday, the boy's stepfather, 46, told Gwinnett Police that he and the boy had an argument around 7 p.m. at their apartment complex on the 4000 block of Bowers Pointe Drive. According to the police report, the boy was screaming, yelling and calling his stepfather names, and even tried to punch him, but missed. 

For discipline, the stepdad then hit the suspect in the face, according to the police report. The stepson immediately ran into another room, and the stepfather said he could hear the suspect looking for a knife.

The victim then left in his car to cool down. After 10 minutes, he drove back to return to the home and saw his stepson walking with his girlfriend along Bowers Pointe Drive and Rivers Pointe Court, according to the report.

According to the victim, the stepson threw a large rock at his car when he saw him. Police observed a large scrape on the passenger's car side that went through the red paint and body of the car. They also found the rock later on the side of the road, which had red paint transfer on it. 

Police met up with the suspect and his girlfriend while they were walking along the street. The boy told police that he got into a fight because his stepfather was trying to tell him what to do.

He said he never took a swing at his stepfather, but he did bump him with his shoulder and push him away. He also told police of the punch his stepfather gave him, but police didn't see any visible marks on the victim's face. 

When police interviewed the victim's son, 12, the son confirmed parts of his father's side of the story.

The stepson was arrested and transported to Gwinnett County jail for battery and damage to property.