Marion County sheriff’s deputies cut short an interview and arrested a domestic violence suspect after he started banging his head against the inside of a patrol car.
Christopher Gist, 27, of Tavares, was charged with simple domestic battery after the incident, which happened late Sunday night outside a home on Southeast 249th Terrace in rural Marion County near Umatilla.
Deputies were called to the scene by the occupant of the home, who reported seeing Gist and the victim arguing inside a blue Ford F-150 pickup truck. The witness told the couple they were going to have to leave if they didn’t stop arguing. She said Gist then became irate towards her, a Marion County sheriff’s report states.
While calling 911, the witness said she saw Gist take a drink and throw it at the victim, then rip the victim’s shirt off and grab her by the hair while yelling at her. The witness said Gist then got out of the truck and pulled the victim from passenger door, put her in a choke hold and walked her into a nearby shed, which is where they were when deputies arrived, the report says.
The victim told deputies nothing was wrong and she didn’t want anyone to get in trouble. She said the couple had been arguing but nothing physical happened, and that they went into the shed so she could change her shirt after spilling a drink on herself. Deputies observed multiple red marks on the victim’s chest, neck, and face, as well as a small cut on the left side of her nose and messy and knotted hair. She said the marks were old and caused by dogs.
In an interview with deputies, Gist denied anything physical had happened between him and the victim. He then became irate and started hitting his head on the inside of the patrol vehicle, the report says.
Because of the victim’s injuries being consistent with the witness account, Gist was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he’s being held without bond. He’s due in Marion County Court on Feb. 14.