An Ocala man had marijuana in his pocket when he was arrested after a fight in the Ocala Estates neighborhood.
Richard Earlin Hiles, 28, of NW 19th Lane, was charged with simple domestic battery and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana after the incident, which happened Sunday evening at his residence.
Hiles told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that he was asleep in his room when he heard the victim and another person arguing. He said he left the room to see what was going on. Hiles said the victim started getting verbal with him but he was unable to say what was being said and denied having any part in the altercation, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Hiles said he was going to leave the residence, but the victim wasn’t happy about it and said, “(expletive deleted) you.” He said he responded, “(expletive deleted) you,” and a physical altercation got under way. Hiles said during the fight, a neighbor came over and hit him twice in the face and “booted” him in the nose to break it up. Hiles had a bloody nose consistent with getting hit in the face, the report said.
Several parts of Hiles’ story didn’t make sense. When asked why the victim would be upset that he was leaving and trying to separate himself from the situation, Hiles said, “I don’t know. He’s on drugs,” according to the report.
Deputies spoke to several witnesses, including two neighbors and a roommate. Everybody said they saw Hiles and the victim wrestling but didn’t see who started the fight. They said Hiles and the victim argue frequently and that Hiles is usually the aggressor. Everybody said the neighbor never struck Hiles, the report said.
The victim said Hiles came out of the room and was highly verbal with him. He said he told Hiles to leave, and when he continued to give him attitude, he told Hiles, “(expletive deleted) you.” The victim said Hiles said “(expletive deleted) you” back and came at him swinging, according to the report.
The victim said Hiles took him to the ground, causing him to skin his elbow. He said while he was defending himself, he punched Hiles in the nose before the neighbor broke up the fight. A deputy observed the victim’s elbow was bleeding, the report said.
After detaining Hiles, deputies found a green leafy substance in his pocket that he immediately said was marijuana. A field test confirmed it was .5 grams of marijuana, according to the report.
Hiles is being held in the Marion County Jail on $8,000 bond. He’ll appear in Marion County Court on July 14.