A Palm Bay woman squeezed into a cat cage in an attempt to hide from officers who sought to talk with her about an assault on a dog walker.

Tabatha Del Villar, 39, of the 1600 block of Hays Street Northwest, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, theft and a probation violation, which she was wanted for prior to Wednesday's incident.

Early that morning, a man told police he was walking his dog on Hays when Del Villar and another person stepped out of the home and complained that she is woken up each morning by his use of a flashlight. The woman was spewing curse words and approaching the dog owner, he told police.

The man pushed Del Villar away from him, which is when she grabbed the flashlight and struck him in the eye. The dog owner contacted police.

When officers showed up to the home, Del Villar sneaked out of a sliding back door. The 5-foot, 2-inches tall, 130-pound woman squeezed into a cat cage to hide, but officers found her.

The dog walker was treated at Palm Bay Community Hospital, police said. He may suffer loss of vision in his eye because the cornea was scratched, according to the affidavit.

Del Villar was convicted on a driving under the influence charge in April, according to Brevard County records. She was awaiting trial for a second DUI charge from an October traffic crash.

Del Villar was being held at the Brevard County Jail in lieu of $40,500 bail.

More:Indictments made against two men in Palm Bay shooting death; one at-large

More:Association must consider requests for 'comfort dog'

Stancil is a breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY and TCPalm.

Contact Stancil at 321-242-3662 or 321-987-7179

or lamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com.

Twitter: @TCPalmLStancil