An Ocala man was arrested after a scuffle that left his roommate needing stitches on his lip.
Marshall Timothy Norcross, 30, was charged with aggravated battery after the incident, which happened shortly after midnight Tuesday. Norcross also had an active warrant out of Marion County for possessing and selling marijuana.
The victim told an Ocala Police officer that Norcross punched him in the face after a verbal dispute that started when Norcross came out of his room complaining the victim was being too loud. He said he started fighting out of self-defense and put Norcross in a chokehold to stop him. The victim said Norcross then started apologizing, and he told Norcross he had to leave, according to the OPD report.
The victim’s girlfriend, who witnessed the incident, said Norcross came out of his room and was being very hostile towards the victim and her for being loud. She said Norcross tightened his fist out of anger, but she was able to calm him down and he went back into his room. The victim’s girlfriend said Norcross came back out of the bedroom and launched at the victim, who took Norcross to the ground. She said she made the victim get off Norcross, the report said.
Norcross said he came out of his room and told the victim and his girlfriend to be quiet and they got into an argument before he went back into his room. He said he came out and tried to apologize when the victim swung at him first. Norcross said the victim put him in a chokehold, and after he was released, he went to his room. He said he went to take a shower and the victim walked in and swung at him until the victim’s girlfriend separated them again. Norcross said the victim tried to go towards him with a bat before he was stopped by his girlfriend, according to the report.
Norcross’ girlfriend said she didn’t witness the fight. She said she only heard a loud commotion from the living room area, and she looked from the doorway and saw the victim had Norcross in a chokehold, the report said.
The officer observed the victim had a laceration on the left side of his top lip. The cut was approximately 1 inch wide and a quarter-inch deep. The victim went to the hospital on his own and received four stitches, according to the report.
Based on all available information, the officer determined there was probable cause to arrest Norcross. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Tuesday night on $12,000 bond. No court date was set.