A 34-year-old Ocala man spent Wednesday night in jail after an argument escalated to the point where a woman pepper sprayed him and he was charged with threatening her.
Michael C. Rosemond’s right eye was closed all the way and red with irritation when he spoke with a Marion County sheriff’s deputy outside the camper where he lives with the victim. Rosemond said he was outside the camper and the victim was inside, with a screen door separating them, when they got into an argument, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Rosemond said while they were arguing, he opened the door to the camper and went inside. He said he didn’t make any gestures to indicate he was going to strike the victim or make any threats. He said he was yelling loud and the victim told him several times she was going to pepper spray him, but he didn’t believe she would, the report said.
Rosemond aid the victim pepper sprayed him, striking him in both of his eyes and his shirt. He said when he was inside the camper, he never went much further than the entry way, according to the report.
The victim told the deputy that Rosemond became upset with her and started throwing items around in the yard. She said she became scared and stayed inside as they argued through the screen door. The victim said Rosemond reached into an opening on the screen door and opened it from the inside, the report said.
The victim said Rosemond screamed at her as he came inside the camper and started throwing items around. She said he drew back his fist, like he was going to strike her. The victim said she retreated backwards out of fear Rosemond was going to strike her. She said she was able to reach her pepper spray while backing up and warned Rosemond she was going to spray him, according to the report.
The victim said because she was in fear that Rosemond was going to strike her, she deployed the pepper spray, which struck him in the eyes. She said she was able to get her cell phone and call 911, the report said.
Rosemond charged with simple domestic assault / threat to do violence and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Thursday on his own recognizance. He will appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 17.