An Ocala man was arrested after a neighbor showed Marion County sheriff’s deputies video of him pushing a woman and nearly knocking her down.
Robert Herman Hitchcock, 52, was charged with simple battery after the incident, which happened Monday night at his residence on SW 31st Street.
The victim told deputies Hitchcock was intoxicated and had been verbally arguing with everyone inside the residence. She said when she was trying to leave with her mother and stepfather, Hitchcock walked up to her and pushed her with both hands in the chest, causing her to almost fall, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim’s mother said she saw Hitchcock push the victim, and a neighbor who said he heard the disturbance earlier told the deputies he had video of the incident. The video clearly showed Hitchcock outside the garage as the victim was leaving. Hitchcock, who was several feet away from the victim, then walked towards the victim and shoved her with both hands in the chest, the video showed.
Hitchcock, who initially left the location, returned and denied pushing the victim, saying the altercation was only verbal. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was still being held Thursday on $2,000 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Oct. 10.