DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A man and a woman were in a van on their way to jail after a fight when the man became enraged and broke down a barrier, and then attacked the woman on the other side, police said.
According to an arrest report, David Beauregard was charged with battery and damaging property.
"That is strange because he should be restrained, handcuffed and seat-belted in the van," law enforcement expert Chuck Drago said.
Authorities said Beauregard and Ruth Johnson got into an argument along East Grandview Avenue in Daytona Beach late last week.
An arrest report said Beauregard punched and broke a picket fence and threw a piece of it across the street. They stopped at an abandoned house, and a neighbor called 911.
The couple was arrested at the property for trespassing, and then put in the van, where Beauregard broke the barrier, according to the report.
"They're usually built in a way where people can't reach each other inside of these vans, typically," said Drago.
Police said Beauregard got into the other compartment as the van arrived at the jail, and that's when he struck Johnson in the face.
Once the van stopped, Beauregard was subdued.
Police Chief Mike Chitwood said the incident is under review.
"If something like this happens inside a van and someone is injured by another prisoner, that calls for an investigation, no matter what," said Drago.
The incident was caught on camera, but the department has not released the video.
Police said Beauregard must pay for the repairs to the van, which will cost about $1,500.
WFTV
