An Ocala man was arrested Monday night after an argument erupted with another man over a request for a cigarette.
The victim told Marion County sheriff’s deputies that he refused to give 30-year-old John Henry McDonald a cigarette and he became argumentative. He said McDonald then “became increasingly aggressive.”
The victim said he defended himself by pushing McDonald away. And he said McDonald then punched him in the lips, the report says, adding that deputies noted the victim’s upper lip had deep gashes and was bleeding.
Deputies then made contact with McDonald in the 9100 block of SW 32nd Terrace. He said he and the victim were arguing about cigarettes and they were in each other’s faces. And he confirmed that he struck the victim after he was pushed, the report says.
McDonald, who lives on SW 31st Avenue Rd. in Ocala and showed no signs of being in a physical altercation, was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with domestic battery. He was released Wednesday night on $2,500 bond and is due in court on July 18 at 8 a.m. to answer to the charge.