A Dunnellon man was arrested for allegedly strangling another man who was holding a child, and a Dunnellon woman was charged with slapping another woman and preventing her from calling 911 during a recent wild family fight.
Vincent J. Ciaramella, 62, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation. Kerri Ann Ciaramella, 25, was charged with simple domestic battery and obstructing justice by hindering communication of information relating to the possible commission of an offense. The relationships among the two defendants and the victims were redacted from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.
The male victim said he and a woman were arguing inside the residence when Vincent Ciaramella threw a hair straightener towards him that did not hit him. The victim said Ciaramella then placed his hands around him to choke him, according to the report.
The victim said he was holding his juvenile son and was losing his breath, so he dropped to the floor, hoping Vincent Ciaramella would let go. The deputy observed the right side of the victim’s collarbone was red with small scratches, the report said.
Vincent Ciaramella told the deputy he became angry when the victim and the woman were arguing because the victim used provocative words. He said he intervened and the victim placed hands on him first. Ciaramella said he did shove the victim at one point during the encounter and was aware he was holding his juvenile son, according to the report.
A female witness said while she and the victim were arguing, she saw Ciaramella place his hands on the victim. She said she saw the victim fall to the ground while holding the child, the report said.
Meanwhile, a woman who saw the incident said while she was trying to call 911, Kerri Ciaramella tried to pry the phone out of her hand. She said Ciaramella slapped her several times, but she used her forearms to keep from being hit in the face, according to the report.
The victim said Kerri Ciaramella took the telephone out of her hand and said, “You’re not calling the police,” and threw the phone outside. She said during the encounter, her left elbow had rubbed against the back of the couch. The deputy observed her elbow was pink and the skin was peeling. There were no injuries to the victim’s forearms, the report said.
Kerri Ciaramella told the deputy she took the telephone out of the victim’s hand because law enforcement did not need to be involved. She said she didn’t slap the victim, according to the report.
Vincent and Kerri Ciaramella were both taken to the Marion County Jail. Vincent Ciaramella was released on $1,000 bond and is awaiting a court date. Kerri Ciaramella was released on her own recognizance and will appear in Marion County Court on Nov. 24.