INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 42-year-old man is suspected of punching a woman several times inside a motel room after she declined his request for sexual favors in exchange for crack cocaine, authorities said.
The incident left blood stains on the carpet and curtains, an arrest report shows.
Deputies on Sunday arrested Jerris Demontize Cross, of the 3900 block of 45th Place, on a charge of battery. He was released Monday from the Indian River County Jail on $500 bond.
Deputies responded to a disturbance about 8 p.m. Sunday at the Indian River Medical Center, 1000 36th Street. Deputies spoke with a woman who was covered in blood.
The woman said she was at her friend’s home when a man she knew as Cross came over. The exact relationship between the pair was not known.
Cross gave the woman crack cocaine, an arrest report shows.
Since the woman did not have any money, Cross asked her for sexual favors in exchange for the drugs, authorities said. The woman told him “no” and told Cross to take back the cocaine.
Cross refused to take back the drugs and left the area, an arrest report shows.
Soon later, the woman called her friend to pick her up and take her to Motel 6, 8800 20th Street. Cross followed them, deputies said.
The three were inside a motel room when Cross began yelling at the woman about the cocaine. Cross began punching the woman in the face repeatedly as she fell to the floor, an arrest report shows.
Cross fled the area and the woman’s husband took her to the hospital, deputies said. Deputies went to the motel room and spoke with Cross, who denied knowing the woman.
Deputies arrested Cross. Cross has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. June 12, court records show.
