An electronic argument between two females allegedly led to a fight that landed three people in custody. Two of the three were released quickly but one of the suspects, the lone male involved in the altercation, remains in jail.
According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, officers responded to Treetop Apartments in reference to a fight shortly after 4 p.m. When they arrived, they found a chaotic scene. There were several witnesses who, along with surveillance video, helped sort out what happened.
The report says that two females, Jasmine Harmon, 32, and Mercedes High, 24, had been arguing via text messages. According to the report, High stated that Harmon told her to come over. She obliged, the report says, and that’s when the fight began. A third subject, Tykeydrick Barfield, 25, was also on the scene when officers arrived but he said that was simply trying to break up the fight.
Harmon stated that when High came over, High spit on or at Harmon, the report says. High stated that Harmon threw bleach on her, according to the report. Then they started fighting. A witness reported that High hit Harmon first, the report says. Harmon denied throwing bleach on High although the report says that there was evidence at the scene that bleach had been thrown.
Witnesses also stated that Barfield had gotten into an altercation with a juvenile while trying to break up the fight between Harmon and High. Barfield had taken off his shirt and when he did, a gun was seen inside his waistband. He allegedly went to a vehicle and placed the gun inside then returned to the scene of the fight.
Officers searched the vehicle and found a gun that fit the description of the one Barfield allegedly had.
High was arrested and charged with affray and disorderly conduct; Harmon was charged with affray; and Barfield was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. High and Harmon were released from jail while Barfield remains incarcerated.
The day after the incident, officers reviewed surveillance video from the apartments which verified witness statements. The video also shows Harmon appear to throw bleach at High. It also shows Barfield leave the fight, go to a car, then return. Investigators believe this is when he put the gun inside the car.