A 69-year-old Village of Tall Trees man was arrested after allegedly attacking a cancer patient in the kitchen of her home.
Carl Rittenhouse, who lives on Wilkinson Way, was arrested by Sumter County sheriff’s deputies after he allegedly entered the woman’s home, also in the Village of Tall Trees, on Saturday morning. Once inside the home, he allegedly began punching the woman and took her hairpiece, according to an arrest report.
He and the woman have been in a dating relationship, the arrest report indicated.
She told deputies she has changed the locks on her home five times in the past 12 months and has repeatedly changed the code on her garage.
She said that on Friday night, Rittenhouse had gotten into her vehicle while it was parked at the Waterfront Inn at Lake Sumter Landing. When she returned to her vehicle, Rittenhouse took her hairpiece and left the scene.
After Rittenhouse was taken into custody at his home and placed in the back of a squad car, he began complaining of chest pains and was transported to The Villages Regional Hospital.
After he was cleared by medical personnel, Rittenhouse was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on charges of burglary, battery and petit theft.
He posted $28,500 bond and was released at 7:37 p.m. Wednesday.
He was placed on one year’s probation, but Rittenhouse’s attorney was able to persuade the judge to terminate the probation early. It was terminated on Jan. 27, 2015.
Rittenhouse was arrested in 2007 and 2011 on charges of driving under the influence. Each time he was sentenced to probation.
In December 2014, he was cited for parking in a handicapped spot. He was fined $186.
