A 44-year-old Ocklawaha man was arrested Sunday and charged with domestic child abuse after a confrontation with a juvenile turned violent.
According to a Marion County Sheriff’s report, Darrius Deon Reid, 44, went to a place he referred to as “drug house” to pick up a juvenile early Sunday morning. The juvenile told a deputy that she believed Reid, who listed his occupation as a day laborer with Airborn Tree Service in Summerfield, was intoxicated. The juvenile said she told Reid that she believed he had been drinking and she wasn’t leaving with him.
According to the report, the juvenile said Reid grabbed her around the waist, drug her toward his car and slammed her to the ground. She said she became groggy and had a difficult time remembering things after that.
The juvenile said her aunt, who came with Reid, was trying to “keep the peace” as she talked her into getting in the car. She said another altercation broke out as they drove away.
The juvenile claims she eventually climbed into the driver’s seat of the car, while Reid climbed into the backseat and started choking her until she couldn’t breathe. She said she was able to get away from Reid and ran all the way back to her friend’s house where the first confrontation took place.
Later, her aunt picked her up and took her to her grandmother’s house, the juvenile said.
The deputy investigating the incident said he didn’t see any marks on the juvenile’s neck, but he did notice several fresh scratches on her stomach.
The deputy also spoke with the aunt, who gave the same information as the juvenile. She told the deputy that Reid “had good intentions but things got way out of hand” and she was concerned that “he was going to seriously hurt” the juvenile. The woman also said that the juvenile was “out cold” after Reid slammed her to the ground, and after she regained consciousness, she seemed very disoriented.
Reid admitted that he grabbed the victim by the waist, put her in a bear hug and drug her to the car. He also said he “threw her to the ground” so he could open the car door.
Reid told the deputy they got into an altercation inside the car, but he denied choking the girl and said he didn’t believe she was ever unconscious. He also said he had the girl’s “well-being” in mind when he went to pick her up but admitted that “things did get out of hand.”
Reid was transported to the Marion County Jail and originally held with no bond. He later was released on $5,000 bond.
Sunday’s arrest wasn’t the first for Reid. According to Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Marion County Court records, he’s been arrested at least 10 times dating back to 1998 and found guilty of crimes that include driving while license is suspended or revoked (habitual), failure to control animals on a property and to have them vaccinated, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, disorderly conduct, expired license tag greater than six months, driving with a license suspended or revoked for DUI, failure to wear safety belts, failure to carry or display registration, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, petit theft and resisting detainment by a retail merchant.