An Ocala man who said he called law enforcement to document a domestic incident ended up being the one arrested recently.
John Michael McDowell, 33, told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy he was speaking with another person about damaging a wall when the victim intervened and told him to leave that person alone. The other person’s relationship to McDowell and the victim was redacted from the sheriff’s office report.
McDowell said he and the victim became physical with each other. He said, “There is no victim here,” and that he just wanted the incident documented. The deputy observed McDowell had a small laceration on his right ear. He said he did not need medical attention, according to the report.
The victim told the deputy that McDowell was being verbal with the other person and she asked him to stop. She said he refused to stop yelling, so she picked up a remote control and threw it out of anger. The victim said the remote control hit the couch and landed on the floor. She said McDowell picked it up and broke it in half, the report said.
The victim said McDowell then grabbed her and slung her to the floor and was on top of her. She said she bit McDowell on his right arm and started scratching him to get him off her. The deputy observed several household items were thrown around the residence and a black remote control was broken into two pieces on the floor of the living room, according to the report.
The victim said McDowell had been drinking and becomes hostile when intoxicated, the report said.
After being read his Miranda warning, McDowell said he did break the remote and pinned the victim to the ground. He said he put her on the ground because she “lunged” at him. The deputy could smell the odor of alcohol on McDowell’s breath. McDowell said he had three or four drinks prior to the incident, according to the report.
McDowell was charged with simple domestic battery and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released early Tuesday on $250 bond. McDowell is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on June 9.