A Fort McCoy couple was arrested last week after a nasty bar fight broke out during a game of pool.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were called to Cactus Jack’s Bar, located at 23740 NE Hwy. 314 in Salt Springs, on Wednesday night after a woman and her boyfriend were attacked during a scuffle related to a game of pool.
A bartender told deputies that a female victim was thrown to the ground by two women, one of which was identified as 34-year-old Sandra Brooke Cook. And she said the victim’s boyfriend allegedly was hit over the head with pool sticks by a man later identified as 38-year-old Jason Thomas Dempsey, a sheriff’s office report states.
The bartender said several patrons broke up the fight and both Dempsey and Cook left the bar while law enforcement was being called.
The female victim told deputies that she was watching the game of pool and made a “smart remark” about how Dempsey was playing. She said her boyfriend then walked over and knocked the 8 ball into the pocket, which led to Cook attacking her, the report says, adding the deputies noted the victim appeared to be intoxicated and had suffered an injury to her right eye, which was bleeding.
The victim’s boyfriend confirmed knocking the 8 ball into the pocket and said Dempsey then allegedly hit him over the head with two pool sticks, both of which were broken and lying on the floor near the pool table. The man also complained of pain in his neck, which was swollen, the report says.
After three witnesses confirmed the victims’ stories, deputies made contact with Cook at her residence, located at 15290 NE 216th Ct. in Fort McCoy. She claimed there was no physical altercation and said she didn’t see anything. She was then taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail early Thursday morning, where she was charged with battery and released later in the day on $500 bond.
Deputies made contact with Dempsey early Thursday afternoon at his home, located at 20850 NE 144th Terr. in Fort McCoy. He was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon. He was released early Friday morning on $10,000 bond.