It all started on May 11, 2015, when Trooper C. Powers was dispatched to a Hit and Run crash on Southeast 112 Court Road and Southeast 176th Place Road.
When the trooper arrived on the scene, he made contact with the crash victim, Joseph Froman, 75.
Froman stated that as he was pulling out of his subdivision, a blue minivan ran a stop sign and struck his vehicle.
As Froman exited his vehicle, three individuals, later identified as Cody E. Boggs-Jennings, 20, his wife Lacyann Barnes, 21, and her father Albert Barnes, 44, exited the minivan.
According to reports, immediately after the trio exited the van, they began verbally attacking Froman. When Froman asked for their insurance information, Albert shoved Froman twice. Froman then fell backward into his vehicle, which caused a 10×10 inch dent in the driver’s side door.
Lacyann, who is pregnant, then pulled a glass Pepsi bottle from inside the van and threw it at Froman. The glass bottle struck Froman’s foot and shattered.
A witness stated that the trio continued to batter Froman and that Lacyann was acting “chaotically and aggressive” toward Froman.
According to the witness, Cody had to pick Lacyann up and carry her back to the minivan.
They then removed the license place from the back of the van and fled the scene.
There was also a small child with them during the altercation.
Trooper Powers reported that Froman was visibly distraught and shaken up over the incident.
The trooper stated that he used surveillance video from the Summerfield Walmart and discovered that they had purchased items using a food stamp card.
According to reports, a subpoena was obtained and served to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) on May 20.
DCF was then required to provide an address to the trooper by using the last four numbers of the food stamp card.
When the trooper arrived at the residence, he reported that he had been there before in reference to another vehicle assault.
During questioning, all three suspects denied striking Froman. They also denied removing the license plate from their van.
Lacyann told the trooper that she was not throwing the Pepsi bottle at Froman. Instead, she stated she was “throwing it at the ground.”
The suspects told the trooper that Froman attacked them. However, they were unaware that the trooper had obtained witness statements.
Albert told the trooper that he had discussed the incident with a female Sumter County sheriff’s deputy, but records showed that a female deputy was not on duty in the area where Albert stated the conversation had taken place.
Cody stated that he didn’t remember anything because there was so much chaos on the day of the incident.
The trooper reported, “Based on the witnesses’ statements, the fact that the suspects fled the scene and did not report the accident, and because they tried to conceal the crime and their identities by removing the license plate from the vehicle, there was sufficient evidence to obtain warrants for an arrest.”
On June 20, Lacyann, Cody, and Albert were arrested and charged with Felony Battery on a Person Older than 65 Years of Age.
All three were released from jail on a $2,000 bond each.