Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Man jailed on assault charges

His girlfriend fell from a second-floor window after he beat her and waved a knife at her, police say.

By ROBIN STEIN
Published September 9, 2006

TARPON SPRINGS - A Tarpon Springs man was arrested Thursday night for allegedly beating his girlfriend, charging her with a knife and forcing her to climb out a second floor window, authorities said.

Officer Stephen A. Van Schaick spotted Brenda Bailee, 42, hanging from an awning at 165 East Tarpon Ave. About 8:50 p.m., Bailee was shouting for help, struggling to hold on, Van Schaick said, but dropped to the sidewalk before he reached her.

Bailee told police that her live-in boyfriend, Thomas M. Sudbrook, 43, had been hitting her and waving a knife, driving her to escape out the window.

Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue took Bailee to the trauma unit at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries and later released, police said.

Neighbors and people who witnessed the scene from Greek Pizza Kitchen across the street described arguing and screams inside the apartment, police said.

Inside the apartment, police found Sudbrook on a couch with a pillow over his face, unresponsive. He was taken by ambulance to Helen Ellis Hospital for treatment.

Upon his release later Thursday night, Sudbrook kicked an officer who was taking him into custody, police said.

Sudbrook was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a police officer, and remained in Pinellas County Jail on Friday, pending $10,000 bail.

[Last modified September 9, 2006, 06:22:01]