A Silver Springs man was arrested recently after he allegedly battered a woman and dragged her out of a neighbor’s home during an argument over money.
Michael Frederick Allen, 58, was charged with simple battery after the incident, which happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 27.
A pair of Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded to the Circle K store at 5877 E. Hwy. 40, where the victim told them the incident took place at the residence where she lives with Allen. She said they were arguing over financial issues when Allen hit her on the right side of her face/cheek with a closed fist, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said after she was struck, she fled to a neighbor’s residence and asked to stay there the rest of the evening. She said Allen showed up at the neighbor’s residence and demanded she return his cell phone and for her to come home. The victim said Allen grabbed her by the throat and tried to “drag” her out of the neighbor’s residence, the report said.
The victim said although Allen had her by the throat, she was able to get away from him before he was able to choke her or restrict her airway. She said she left on foot and went to the Circle K, where she called law enforcement. The deputies observed a small red mark on the side of the victim’s neck, which corroborated her statement of being grabbed by the throat, according to the report.
The deputies responded to the incident location and spoke with Alen, who said there was a verbal argument with the victim over financial issues, but he never became physically violent with her. Allen said the only time the incident became physical in nature was when the victim struck him with a flashlight on his left forearm. The deputies did not observe any marks or injuries on Allen’s forearm, the report said.
The neighbor at the home where the victim first fled to said he was home while the victim and Allen were at his residence but he was in his bedroom and not physically present. He said he could hear both parties verbally arguing and at some point it became physical, but he did not see anything physical take place, according to the report.
Allen was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was being held Monday on $1,000 bond. He will appear in Marion County Court on Nov. 25.