MARATHON, Florida — A 59-year-old Marathon man was arrested early Sunday morning for beating his roommate with a baseball bat.
Javier Francisco Arellano was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The 57-year-old victim was taken to Fishermen’s Hospital and then airlifted to a Miami hospital with injuries that required staples to his head. He suffered other injuries to legs, arms and hands.
Multiple Deputies responded to a residence on the 1500 block of Copa D Oro Street where they found the victim with a large amount of blood coming from his head. The victim stated he was beaten previously by his roommate, later identified as Arellano, at their shared residence on the 900 block of nearby Camino Real Street. The victim stated he fled to his neighbor’s house on Copa D Oro for help.
The victim told Detective Leon Bourcier he stored a dead rat or mouse in a freezer to feed a pet snake, which upset Arellano. The victim stated Arellano approached him about the issue, but the victim stated they would discuss it later, hoping to avoid an argument. The victim stated he went to leave the room when Arellano began hitting him with a baseball bat. Arellano eventually knocked the victim down and stated, “I’m going to have to kill you,” before the victim was able to flee to a neighbor’s house.
Arellano stated he was attacked by the victim, but Arellano had no visible injuries other than a scratch on his elbow.
Arellano was taken to jail.
The Sheriff’s Office subsequently found approximately 40 assorted firearms the residence, which were taken into protective custody for safe keeping until their owner is identified.
