A Citra man was arrested after two witnesses reported that he smacked a woman in the back of her head and twice threw her to the ground by her hair during an incident in Ocklawaha.
Zachary James Sheffield, 21, of 14179 NE 53rd Court, was charged with simple domestic battery after the incident, which happened Thursday evening on the back patio at a residence on SE 20th Street.
The victim was very confused when speaking with the Marion County sheriff’s deputy who responded. She did not remember what happened except that she was attacked. The deputy observed cuts on the victim’s left knee and ankle that had fresh blood oozing from them, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim’s roommate told the deputy that Sheffield came to the residence to retrieve something from the victim. The roommate said as Sheffield was walking to the back patio, he smacked the victim on the back of the head, then grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground two times before leaving, the report said.
The second witness said he saw Sheffield walk up to the back patio and smack the victim in the back of her head. He said Sheffield grabbed the victim by her hair and threw her to the ground twice, causing her to hit her head and scrape her leg. The witness said a brief verbal argument ensued and Sheffield left the residence, according to the report.
Both witnesses said after she was thrown to the ground, the victim couldn’t remember what happened and appeared confused, the report said.
Contacted at his residence, Sheffield refused to answer any questions about the incident. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $1,000 bond. He will appear in Marion County Court on Nov. 17.