Here’s a case where a simple intra-family dispute escalates into a criminal charge:

A 53-year-old man in the Orange City area got angry when his adult son (whose property is adjacent to Dad’s property and sort of “merges” with it) was watering Son’s own plants.

Territorial Dad claimed that Botanical Son was coming onto Dad’s property and trying to steal his plants, and he threatened to hit Son.

Botanical Son said if Territorial Dad struck him he would call the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. So, of course, Dad got really mad and slapped Son with an open hand.

Territorial Dad left his territory before a sheriff’s deputy arrived and later told the deputy on the phone he didn’t want to come home because he was afraid he’d be arrested. (Duh! If you hit somebody, you get arrested!)

Botanical Son and a woman who observed the conflict gave statements to the deputy, and the deputy took photos of “clear and concise red marks [on Son] that were consistent with being struck with an open palm strike.” Son said he wanted to press charges.

The deputy created a pass-along affidavit to charge Territorial Dad with misdemeanor simple battery (domestic violence), and Dad turned himself in the next day at the Sheriff’s Office’s substation in DeBary.

Too bad Dad and Son let bitter weeds grow between them. Maybe they should repair the damage by going on The People’s Court. What? That program is off the air? Well, how about writing to Dear Abby?