An Ocala man was arrested after he allegedly battered a 65-year-old resident of a motel owned by his father.
Phil Ray Hensley, 48, of 7767 N.E. 20th Court, was charged with battery on a person 65 years or older. Hensley’s father owns the Journey’s End Motel, 7767 NE 20th Court, which is where the incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy he was outside smoking a cigarette when Hensley confronted him about his son being on the property. Hensley told the victim his son was not allowed on the property because he owned them money. The victim said he told Hensley it was not fair his son couldn’t visit him because he owes them a week’s worth of rent, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said Hensley became upset and grabbed the victim by his legs, causing him to fall to the ground. He said Hensley placed his knees on his chest once they were on the ground, then reared back with a closed fist and said, “go ahead and say something else,” the report said.
The victim said Hensley didn’t strike him at that point, but instead grabbed him by the legs and dragged him from outside the front door to inside his room. He said Hensley lifted the victim from the ground and placed him on his bed, then stood over him and struck him in the face with an open hand, according to the report.
The victim said Hensley told him he’d have to leave the property when his rent is due and then left the incident location. The victim’s neighbor told the deputy he heard the commotion, looked out his window and saw the victim on the ground with Hensley on top of him, the report said.
Hensley told the deputy that he and the victim got into a verbal argument but it never became physical and that he has no problem with the victim. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $2,000 bond. Hensley is due to appear in Marion County Court on Sept. 29.