Texts lead to assault, arrests

An ongoing argument via text message Thursday between a Poplar Bluff man and his girlfriend allegedly escalated into a physical assault between the couple and her son.

Marvin Joe Clark, 54, reportedly received stitches at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center after he was struck in the head by a candle warmer allegedly wielded by his girlfriend, Lisa Mae Brown, 53.

Both Brown and her 20-year-old son, Jakeel Lamarr Brown, were arrested and booked at the Butler County jail.

Jakeel Brown

Butler County deputies were called to Clark’s Oak View Apartment in the 700 block of East Outer Road between 10:30 and 11 p.m., according to Cpl. Derek House’s report.

“M. Clark stated that Lisa Brown and her son, Jakeel Brown, had assaulted him,” House said. “(He) stated that J. Brown punched him, and L. Brown smashed a vase over his head.”

House said Clark was bleeding heavily from his head.

While at the scene, House said, he saw busted glass on the floor, and the living room area to be in disarray implying a struggle had taken place.

House said Lt. Aaron Pratt went to the hospital, where he got a detailed statement from Clark.

In that statement, House said, Clark reported the younger Brown came to his apartment “wanting to know why (he) called his mother, L. Brown,” a derogatory name.

House said Clark reported he told Jakeel Brown he needed to leave and the two subsequently began to argue.

Clark, House said, further reported the younger Brown then started to say things attempting to get him to fight, so Lisa Brown stepped in between her son and boyfriend.

“M. Clark stated that J. Brown (hit him with an) upper cut in the jaw, so he hit J. Brown back,” House said. “(He) stated that L. Brown attempted to mace him, so he hit her.

“(He) stated that L. Brown then hit him over the head with a vase and other things in the house.”

After leaving Clark’s apartment, the Browns went to the sheriff’s department, where they were both told of their rights and interviewed.

The elder Brown, House said, reported she and Clark had been “arguing back and forth all day over text messages. (She) stated that M. Clark called her a ‘-----,” so she quit responding to his text.”

Lisa Brown further reported Clark later texted her, telling her he had sweet corn for her to come and get, House said.

The woman reportedly sent her son, but she later decided to go to Clark’s apartment too.

“When she got there, M. Clark and J. Brown where already fighting,” House said. “(She) stated that M. Clark punched J. Brown, causing him to fall on the floor.

“(She) stated that she attempted to separate the two, but M. Clark punched her in the mouth. (She) stated that M. Clark continued to punch J. Brown while he had him pinned to the ground.”

Brown said she and her son then left the apartment and came to the sheriff’s department.

When confronted with the evidence at the scene -- broken glass and smell of pepper spray -- and Clark’s injuries, House said, Lisa Brown reported once her son and Clark “started to fight, she picked up a candle warmer and hit M. Clark in the head with it.

“L. Brown stated that M. Clark then hit her, so she pepper sprayed him.”

In his statement, House said, Jakeel Brown reported “he was mad that M. Clark called his mother a ‘-----,’ so he confronted him about it.

“(He) stated that M. Clark attempted to make some ‘example’ of why he said it, but this just made J. Brown agitated, so he said ‘some things’ to M. Clark.”

House said Jakeel Brown further reported his mother got between them and “he said something that made M. Clark punch him.”

During an ensuing physical altercation, the younger Brown reportedly told deputies his mother hit Clark on the head with something, which allowed him to get up.

Lisa Brown was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, while her son was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and first-degree trespassing.