An Ocklawaha man is accused of battering and terrorizing a woman during a nasty domestic spat, and then promising to give her $1,000 if she didn’t report the incident.
Harold A. Williams, 63, of SE 135th Terrace, was charged with simple domestic battery and obstructing justice by intimidating or threatening a victim or witness. He was arrested Monday morning at his residence, which is where the incident occurred.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy responded to the location after a caller reported a female was yelling for help. Upon arrival, the witness flagged down the deputy, pointed out the house and said the victim was still screaming. While driving up to the house, the deputy heard a woman calling for help, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy observed the victim banging on the inside of the front window and calling for help. While she was doing this, a man later identified as Williams had his arms wrapped around her abdomen and was pulling her away from the window. After seeing the deputy, Williams let go of the victim and fled deeper into the home and out of sight, the report said.
The victim ran out the front door towards the deputy, who asked her to wait by the patrol car. The deputy called for Williams to come out and he complied. When asked what happened, Williams said he and the victim had an argument and he dragged the victim back into the house after she tried to flee because he didn’t want her to cause a scene with the neighbors, according to the report.
Williams had blood on his right hand. When asked if the blood belonged to him or the victim, Williams said he had cut his own finger. The deputy checked his hands and didn’t find any lacerations. Williams refused to speak any further about the incident, the report said.
The victim said she and Williams were arguing over her wanting a job. She said Williams frequently bullies her by intimidation. The victim said on this day, Williams threw trash at her and filled a bowl with water and dumped it on her. She said she tried to leave and Williams threw the bowl at her, striking her on the right cheek, according to the report.
The victim said she hasn’t been allowed to have a cell phone but she had recently purchased one and was keeping it in her purse. She said she grabbed her purse and tried to leave the house to call 911, but Williams grabbed her and said, “You’re not calling the cops.” The victim said Williams took her purse and she screamed for neighbors to call 911 while he was dragging her back into the house, the report said.
The victim said once they were inside, Williams promised her $1,000 if she would refrain from reporting the incident. She said she tried to leave multiple times but he prevented her. The victim said at some unknown point in the altercation she had cut one of her fingers. The deputy observed a laceration on her knuckle that was actively bleeding, as well as blood and swelling on the victim’s face consistent with her statements, according to the report.
The witness told the deputy she first heard the victim calling for help and went to investigate. She said she saw the victim flee the house and call for help, but Williams grabbed her and cupped his hand over her mouth while dragging her back inside, the report said.
Williams was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail. He was released early Thursday morning on $2,000 bond and is due in court March 10 at 9 a.m.