An Ocala man was arrested last week after he reportedly battered a woman and then chased and threatened a man who tried to stop it with a knife.
Gary Lee Hamm Jr., 46, of 2573 SW 166th Court Road, was with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and simple battery.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy responded around 7:30 p.m. Thursday to a physical disturbance at the BP gas station at 14055 W. Highway 40. The man who called 911 said a white man with a dark beard wearing blue jeans and a black shirt – later identified as Hamm – hitting a female on the side of the road. The caller also said Hamm was armed with a knife, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy arrived to see Hamm getting out of a green Dodge truck and walking into the roadway. Hamm was detained and placed into the back of the patrol car due to him possibly being armed. While patting down Ham for weapons, the deputy found three folding knives in his pocket, including a dark grey folding knife with a black serrated blade, the report said.
The witness told the deputy he was parked in the lot at the BP station when he saw Hamm erratically pull over to the side of the road and throw the female victim from the truck. He said Hamm grabbed the victim by the neck and appeared to be choking the victim to death, according to the report.
The witness said Hamm then started chasing a male victim with a knife in his hand, saying he was going to slit the man’s throat, the report said.
The male victim told the deputy he was traveling west on Highway 40 at the intersection with 140th Avenue when he saw a green Dodge pickup in the median. The victim said both doors on the truck were open and he saw Mann on top of the female victim, striking her in the torso, according to the report.
The male victim said he approached Mann and the victim to try and separate them. He said Mann removed a black folding pocketknife with a serrated blade from his pocket. The victim said Mann approached him and said, “I will stab you.” He said he was in fear and believed Mann was going to harm him, the report said.
The female victim said she and Mann were arguing in the truck while traveling east on Highway 40. She said Mann stopped the vehicle and she got out of it willingly. The victim said Mann did not batter or choke her, and she denied any physical altercation happened. She had a small abrasion above her left eye with fresh blood on it, according to the report.
Hamm refused to answer any questions. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Saturday on $2,500 bond. He is due to appear in Marion County Court on Aug. 25.