KEY LARGO, Fla. – A man and a woman were arrested Saturday in Key Largo after they forced their way into an apartment and beat up the occupants over a $42 debt, deputies said.
Renee Szczudlik, 39, and Adam Halenza, 34, knocked on the door of a 68-year-old man's door before 8 p.m., forced their way inside and pushed the victim to the floor, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.
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The victim recognized the pair, and knew his 27-year-old godson owed them $42, deputies said.
While the man went into his room to get the money, the pair began knocking on his godson’s bedroom door.
When the door opened, Szczudlik grabbed the godson by the hair and dragging him out of bed, deputies said. Then Halenza sat on him, punched him and shoved his face into a closet door.
The man and his wife attempted to defend their godson, deputies said, but the intruders were able to take their money and leave the house.
The victims sustained minor injuries in the attack.
The godson was able to give the deputy the address where the two suspects live in Islamorada and the pair were arrested soon after on a charge of burglary to an occupied dwelling with battery on the occupant.
Halenza was additionally arrested on charges of battery on a person over 65 years of age and aggravated battery. Szczudlik was arrested on two counts of battery and with criminal mischief.