A Dunnellon woman spent a night in jail for allegedly punching a man in the face for no reason.
Erica Dziedzic, 28, was charged with domestic battery after the incident, which happened around 4 a.m. Monday at the home she and the victim share on SW Zinnia Court.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Dziedzic punched him in the face unprovoked. The deputy observed a large bruise under the victim’s left eye. The victim said he didn’t want to pursue charges, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Interviewed by the deputy, Dziedzic would only say she argued with the victim and did not give a reason for punching him in the face. She did not make any statements about the victim being physical with her. Dziedzic had a tiny scratch on her face that appeared older and a small rip in her shirt that she wouldn’t explain. She was given multiple opportunities to explain what happened and she was uncooperative, the report said.
Due to the statements and injuries observed, Dziedzic was determined to be the primary aggressor and was placed under arrest. At that point, Dziedzic said she punched the victim out of self-defense, and she lied to the deputy to protect the victim, according to the report.
Dziedzic was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was released Tuesday on $500 bond. She’ll answer to the domestic battery charge in Marion County Court on Aug. 7.