A 57-year-old Ocala man was arrested after he allegedly put a woman in a chokehold and punched her mother in the head during a wild domestic melee early Tuesday morning.
Robert Earl Gadson, of NE 40th Street, was charged with two counts of simple domestic battery after the incident, which happened between 4 and 4:30 a.m. at his residence.
The first victim said Gadson started banging on her bedroom door when she arrived home from work and started arguing with her for no reason. She said he was also arguing with her mother (the second victim). The first victim said Gadson grabbed both her and the second victim, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The first victim said at one point, Gadson grabbed her from behind and placed her in a chokehold, wrapping his forearm around her neck. She said while Gadson was grabbing her from behind, he grabbed the second victim by the shirt collar and pulled tightly. The first victim said Gadson punched the second victim in the head and threw both victims on the bed, the report said.
The second victim said Gadson started a verbal altercation between her and the first victim. She said he became very irate and started grabbing and hitting the first victim. The second victim said Gadson grabbed the first victim and placed her in a choke hold, slightly restricting her breathing, according to the report.
The second victim said Gadson grabbed her by the shirt collar and pulled on it before throwing her and the first victim onto the bed. She said Gadson also punched her in the head. The second victim showed the deputy a photo, with a timestamp of 4:20 a.m., of Gadson grabbing the first victim, the report said.
After being read his Miranda warning, Gadson said both victims started the argument with him. He said he did not touch them in any way. His statements contradicted the photo of him grabbing the first victim, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Gadson is being held in the Marion County Jail on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Dec. 11.