A Marion County sheriff’s deputy was called to a religious charitable food donation center early Monday afternoon after receiving reports of a possible assault.
When the deputy arrived at Interfaith Emergency Services at 435 NW 2nd St. in Ocala, he spoke with a man who claimed he got into an argument with another man and then into a confrontation with 47-year-old Joseph Lloyd Elkins, who allegedly punched him in his right eye. The victim said he then retreated and called 911 for help, a sheriff’s office report states.
The deputy spoke with a witness who confirmed the argument and said he saw Elkins, a career criminal who has been in the Marion County Jail 20 times since 1993, punch the victim in the face, the report says.
After being read his rights, Elkins claimed that the victim was “disrespectful” to others in the area. He said he then confronted the victim, which led to the argument. And he admitted to hitting the victim in the face with his right hand, saying he was aiming for his temple, the report says.
The deputy conducted a criminal background check and discovered that Elkins had been convicted and adjudicated guilty in October 2005 for domestic battery and in March 2006 for violating his probation, the report says.
Elkins was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with felony battery. He was being held on $5,000 bond and is due in court July 30 at 9 a.m.