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Friday, March 29, 2024

Nasty Christmas Eve assault lands intoxicated Ocala man behind bars

Brian Eugene Breed

An Ocala man spent Christmas in the Marion County Jail after an alcohol-fueled domestic incident in which a woman and an elderly neighbor who came to her aid were assaulted.

Brian Eugene Breed, 45, was charged with simple domestic battery and battery on a person 65 years or older. He was released on $1,000 bond Thursday and is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Jan. 29.

Several units from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to Breed’s home on Cherry Road late Christmas Eve and were told by the female victim that Breed, who allegedly had been drinking all day, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground multiple times. She said she was able to push Breed off her long enough to run to a neighbor’s house. The victim’s head had red marks and her hair appeared to be pulled, which was consistent with her statement.

The neighbor told deputies that he heard the victim yelling for help and stepped outside, where he saw Breed chasing her. He said he told Breed to leave his property, but Breed approached him and pushed him to the ground. After the two continued to fight on the ground, the neighbor was able break free and Breed ran back into his house. The neighbor had bloody red marks on his hands, consistent with him hitting the ground during the altercation, a sheriff’s office report states.

When deputies arrived, they couldn’t find Breed. Video from the home security system showed him leaving through the sliding glass doors, and he was eventually found hiding in a makeshift door cover for the home’s water system, appearing extremely intoxicated and holding an open liquor bottle, the report says.

Breed, whose record shows previous arrests for domestic battery, DUI and theft, told deputies he didn’t commit battery on either victim. Due to the visible injuries and the victims’ statements, there was probable cause for his arrest. He was taken away without incident.