A Dunnellon man with a couple of prior battery convictions was arrested early Sunday morning after he reportedly took a woman’s gun from her hand and pistol whipped her with it during a domestic dispute.
Jonathan Matthew Rivero, 28, was charged with possession of a firearm by a Florida felon, use or display of a weapon during a felony, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. A records check shows Rivero with convictions for battery in Miami-Dade County in December 2014 and for battery (second or subsequent offense) in Winter Garden in October 2018. He also was convicted of possession of cannabis with intent to distribute out of Miami-Dade County in 2013.
A pair of Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded shortly before 4 a.m. to multiple reports of a physical disturbance involving a handgun. Several callers to 911 said an armed man was hitting a female, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Upon arrival, the deputies found a vehicle with the doors ajar. While approaching the vehicle, they heard rustling in the woods about 30 feet away, where they saw a man, later identified as Rivero, who fit the description of the suspect in the domestic disturbance. Rivero started walking out of the woods and was give several loud commands to get on the ground, but he disregarded them and fled on foot. He was caught and detained after a brief chase. The deputy detected the odor of alcohol on Rivero’s breath, the report said.
One of the witnesses told the other deputy she saw Rivero kick in the front door of the incident location and knock the victim to the ground. The witness said she fled at that point and didn’t see anything else, according to the report.
The victim was highly distraught at the scene and could barely speak. She said Rivero had taken her handgun from her and “pistol whipped” her on top of her head during an argument. The deputy observed a small red spot and felt a raised lump on top of the victim’s head. The victim said she had never been in such fear until that incident. She was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, the report said.
Deputies spoke to the victim again after she had calmed down. She didn’t remember what started the argument, but she said Rivero left the residence and came back multiple times acting very irate and erratic. The victim said the final time, she locked the door to keep him out, but Rivero kicked it down. She said she had her firearm in her hand to defend herself and told Rivero to leave the residence multiple times, but he refused and approached her in an aggressive manner, according to the report.
The victim said once Rivero was inside the residence, he pushed her several times, knocking her to the ground and the firearm out of her hand. She said Rivero retrieved the gun and struck her on the top of her head with it. The victim said Rivero dragged her out of the residence at one point, the report said.
The victim said she was eventually able to flee the residence and go next door while law enforcement was notified of the incident. She said there have been several previous incidents o domestic abuse with Rivero in the past. The victim described her firearm as a pink and black Taurus, according to the report.
Rivero refused to speak with the deputies after being read his Miranda warning. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Wednesday on $5,000 bond. He’s due to appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 9.