An Ocala man in search of a missing battery charger was arrested Thursday afternoon after a violent confrontation inside a woman’s home.
According to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office report, Rickey Neil Asbell, 58, forced his way into the woman’s home in the 39000 block of NW Gainesville Road after accusing her of stealing his battery charger. The woman told deputies that he became very upset after she told him she didn’t know what happened to the charger.
The woman said she stayed in her living room/kitchen area – out of Asbell’s way – as he searched her home. She said that after he went through her bedroom, Asbell walked up to her, grabbed her neck and pushed her against her kitchen wall. The woman said she tried to get away, which caused both of them to fall over a couch, the report says.
The woman said Asbell then walked out her front door and tripped over a rug. She said she closed the door and he left.
After observing red marks all around the woman’s neck, the deputy located Asbell at his home, located at 4023 NW Gainesville Rd., Lot 13. Asbell admitted to going to the woman’s home and accusing her of taking his battery charger. He said the woman pushed him, but he admitted that he pushed her first, the report says.
The deputy said Asbell appeared to be intoxicated and had several small lacerations on his right hand and left knee. He was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with battery and burglary with assault or battery.
Asbell was held on $16,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom July 3 at 9 a.m.