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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Dunnellon man charged with beating up one-legged man at bar

Jeffery A. Harden

A Dunnellon man was arrested after he allegedly beat up a one-legged man at the Silver Moon Tavern on Sunday night.

Jeffery A. Harden Sr., 52, of 3993 SW Portulaca Court, was charged with abuse of a disabled adult without great harm after the incident at the bar, located at 3025 S. U.S. Hwy. 41.

The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Harden, who frequents the bar, was sitting at an outside table when he walked outside to start cleaning the area. The victim said Harden got up and started becoming confrontational about a bartender who had just been fired, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The victim said Harden pushed him and then headbutted him. He said he walked away, but Harden followed him and punched him on the right side of his face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground. The victim said he got back up and Harden struck him and knocked him to the ground again. He said Harden left the scene, the report said.

The victim has an amputated right leg and was walking around on a prosthetic leg. He was wearing shorts and his prosthetic leg was in clear view. The victim had redness on the right side of his face where he was struck by Harden. He declined medical treatment, according to the report.

The victim showed the deputy security footage that showed Harden getting up from the table and getting the victim’s attention. In the video, the victim approached Harden and Harden pushed him. Harden got closer to the victim and headbutted him. The video showed the victim walk away and out of the view of the camera, the report said.

Deputies responded to Harden’s house, where he refused to speak after being read his Mirada warning. While being taken to the Marion County Jail, Harden became upset and started talking about the victim. At one point, he said, “I ain’t done (expletive deleted) except smack this guy because he disrespected my girlfriend,” according to the report.

Harden was released Tuesday on $2,000 bond and will appear in Marion County Court on Dec. 1.