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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Phone-tossing Ocala man charged with aggravated domestic battery

Daniel Keith Brown

An Ocala man was charged with aggravated domestic battery despite both he and the victim claiming her injury happened by accident when he tossed his phone to her and it struck her in the head.

A Marion County sheriff’s deputy spoke with the victim outside her home on Sunday. She had a large cut on her forehead and was bleeding. The victim immediately said it was an accident, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The victim said she and 41-year-old Daniel Keith Brown were inside the bedroom when he accidentally hit her in the face with his phone. She said the incident started when she asked Brown about an application his phone using Gmail. The victim said Brown then tossed his phone to her and it struck her in the head, the report said.

The victim’s oldest daughter said she didn’t see her mother get struck with the phone but she did hear her yelling, “I can’t believe you just hit me,” and further yelling, “Get off me.” She said the victim and Brown then left the room screaming at each other, according to the report.

The daughter said she called her grandmother, who then called law enforcement. The victim’s other two children, who were outside the room as well, did not want to speak with the deputy, the report said.

After being read his Miranda rights, Brown said the incident was an accident that happened when he tossed the victim his phone. He couldn’t explain how the victim’s injury was so severe if he only “tossed” her the phone, according to the report.

Brown was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released early Tuesday on $5,000 bond. He’ll appear in Marion County Court on Jan. 19, 2021.