LADY LAKE, Fla. – Two sisters are in trouble with the law, accused of domestic violence on an older housemate over a dog. One of them was even tasered before she could be arrested.
“They had a large Rottweiler that appeared aggressive,” a police officer wrote, “so I had informed them several times to secure the dog elsewhere.”
Police showed up at their home in Florida in the early afternoon of Jan. 29.
“Everyone had been drinking and were intoxicated,” the officer noted in the sisters’ arrest reports.
“I met with the victim, who was in the back bedroom on his knees, having trouble standing up,” the officer continued. “I helped him to his feet and began to ask what happened.
“The victim stated they had began [sic] to argue about their dog’s health after it had collapsed in the front yard. The situation escalated when the victim suggested it was time to put the dog down.”
Then, the reports said, one of the sisters – Mardel Elizabeth Coven – “was not happy about the comment the victim made, and approached the victim in an aggressive manner.
“At that point, the victim had slapped the defendant, and then the defendant began to choke him.
“The victim stated that he had [sic] trying to push her away when the defendant continued to become more irate and approach the victim.
Mardel Coven’s arrest report continued, saying, “The defendant’s sister” – Melissa Anne Coven – “also intervened and was acting aggressive towards the victim.
“Therefore, he then attempted to push her away as well, and missed, and made contact with the defendant.”
Melissa Coven reportedly admitted, “She moved her head and said to him.. ‘you’re too slow.’”
Authorities determined the sisters were the primary aggressors, but one was about to become in much deeper trouble than the other.
“Both sisters were sitting on their porch and when asked by law enforcement to step outside,” Melissa Coven’s arrest report said, “the defendant willfully came outside and was placed in handcuffs and transported to Lake County Jail without incident.”
Mardel Coven, on the other hand, “refused to comply with police commands,” her arrest report said. “The defendant became resistant and hostile towards police, actively resisting by pulling her arms away.
“Myself and another officer attempted to safely gain control of the defendant’s arms to place her in handcuffs.
“The defendant ultimately kicked another officer [name] on the scene in the right leg several times.
“The defendant continued to actively resist and [a corporal] had to utilize his taser and delivered a drive stun to get the defendant to comply.
(According to Metropolitan Police in the U.K., that’s when the trigger, without a cartridge, is squeezed, causing “electric current arcs between the two contact points on the front of the Taser.”)
“The defendant said… ‘that felt good’ and began to laugh.
“I then placed the defendant in handcuffs and placed her in the back of my patrol vehicle, and transported her to Lake County Jail.
Melissa Coven, 59, was charged with battery on a person 65 or older and with domestic violence battery. She spent two days in jail until she was released on her own recognizance.
Mardel Coven, 61, was charged with the same crimes, plus battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence. She was booked 12 minutes after her younger sister and spent four days in jail until her release in lieu of $8,500 bond.
Mardel Elizabeth Coven’s No Victim Contact Order, Jan. 29, 2025 by Lenny Cohen on Scribd
Documents don’t describe the sisters’ relationship to the alleged victim, but he’s listed with a different last name on Mardel Coven’s No Victim Contact Order.
According to property records, he’s the owner of the home, which has two bedrooms. He has several homestead exemptions to lower his taxes, including one for being a disabled veteran.
His age was not disclosed.
A SECOND SISTER SQUABBLE STORY:
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