An Ocklawaha man admitted he has an alcohol problem and requested help for anger management after being accused of battering a woman in a boat at Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area on the Fourth of July.
Andrew H. Hillier, 32, was arrested Tuesday and charged with simple domestic battery. The victim called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on July 15 to report the incident, saying she didn’t report it right away because she was scared and didn’t know what to do.
The victim said she and Hillier celebrated the Fourth of July on a boat in the water at the park, located at 5251 N. Highway 19 in Salt Springs. She said Hillier fell asleep in the evening with a towel wrapped around his waist, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said Hillier’s juvenile daughter was present. She said she tried to wake him up to make sure he had shorts on underneath the towel. The victim said Hillier became angry with her for waking him up and smacked her in the back of the head/shoulder blade area. She said she somehow managed to get out of the boat cabin and told Hillier to stop hitting her and that she didn’t want to fight, the report said.
The victim said she doesn’t remember if she climbed out of the cabin or if Hillier “yanked” her out, but he hit her and caused a laceration to her face. When asked if Hillier hit her with a closed fist, the victim said she didn’t remember if he hit her or “busted” her head on the counter. She said she believed Hillier possibly passed out during the altercation and saw white lights. The victim said her ribs, head and back hurt, according to the report.
The victim said Hillier’s daughter ran to get someone who was in the area to help clean up her injuries. She said she got home at around 3:30 a.m. July 5 and went to Ocala Regional Medical Center at around 8 a.m. The victim came to the district office on July 16 and a deputy observed her left eyelid was bruised and there was mark above her left eyelid where the stitches were. The victim showed the deputy photos showing her with stitches above her left eye, the report said.
A deputy called Hillier, who said he has had a problem with alcohol addiction for several years. He said he was very intoxicated the day of the incident and doesn’t remember what happened. Hillier said the only thing he knows about the incident is what the victim told him. He requested help for anger management, according to the report.
Hillier is being held in the Marion County Jail on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Aug. 25.