An Ocala man stands accused of strangling a pregnant woman to the point where she passed out.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday that Jaleel D. Sumter, 21, came to her apartment on Northeast 49th Avenue – where he is listed on the lease – and entered her room, where she was lying in bed. She said Sumter became upset and asked her to go outside so they could talk, a sheriff’s office report states.
The victim said they went outside and walked to the end of the driveway, where they started arguing and Sumter allegedly began choking her, impeding her airway. After he let go, she said Sumter noticed the victim’s friend looking out of a window so he then led her to the side of the building, where he started to choke her again, the report says.
She said Sumter let her go again and they walked to the front of the building, where a mutual friend was sitting in her vehicle. After she began talking to the friend, Sumter began choking her again, this time causing her to black out, the woman claimed, add that he then got into the friend’s vehicle and fled the scene.
The deputy contacted the friend, who said she drove Sumter away from the location but was on the way back with him following behind her in another vehicle. Once she returned, she said she initially drove Sumter to the apartment to return items to the victim, whom she knows is pregnant, the report says.
The woman said Sumter and the victim came out of the building and walked out of her sight to talk. When they approached her vehicle, they began arguing and she saw him choke her. She said she was able to convince him to get in her car and she drove him away, the report says.
Sumter admitted to becoming angry and choking the victim. He said he knew he was wrong, and after initially leaving the scene, chose to return to apologize.
Sumter was charged with aggravated domestic battery on a pregnant victim. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $10,000 bond. He’ll answer to the charge in Marion County Court on March 26.