An 18-year-old Weirsdale man was arrested on a domestic battery charge after tussling with a family member over a loud television.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Jarrod Anthony Deese was in his room at around 5 a.m. Tuesday with the TV volume too high. He said he told Deese to turn it down, and Deese responded by turning it up higher. Deese and the victim live in a mobile home on SE Highway 42, and the sheriff’s office report did not specify the relationship between the two.
The victim said he told Deese to either turn down the volume or turn off the television, and Deese responded by pulling the TV off the table and breaking it. He said they got into an argument and Deese placed one hand on his neck and the other on his shirt and pushed him out of the bedroom. The victim said his airway was not restricted, according to the report.
The victim said a physical altercation took place, and he was able to free himself and put Deese in a headlock and hold him until he calmed down. The victim said he then released Deese and went outside to call 911. He said he was not injured and declined medical treatment, the report said.
The victim’s live-in girlfriend told the deputy she heard the verbal altercation and walked into the room, where she saw Deese push the victim against the wall. She said Deese walked towards the victim and start a physical altercation. The victim’s girlfriend said she was unable to separate the two men during the struggle, according to the report.
Deese told the deputy that the victim asked him to turn down the TV, and that he did. He said the victim later returned upset and told him to turn it down or turn it off. Deese said the victim had an attitude and he responded with an attitude, the report said.
Deese said he turned off the TV and was in his bed with the victim approached him and placed his hands on his neck without restricting his airway. Deese said he sat up and freed himself, then got up and walked towards the victim yelling for him to get out. He said he continued to walk forward until the victim’s outstretched hand was pressed against his chest. Deese said he continued walking forward and pushed the victim out the door with both hands, according to the report.
Deese said the victim placed him in a headlock. He said once he got free, he went to his room and waited for law enforcement to arrive. The deputy told Deese he saw the broken television in his room. Deese he admitted he broke it, but he said it was after the altercation and while he was waiting for law enforcement, the report said.
The deputy observed redness on the right side of Deese’s neck, which Deese said was a result of being placed in the headlock. He declined medical treatment, according to the report.
Deese was determined to be the primary aggressor and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remained Sunday. No bond information was available. Deese will appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 18.