An Ocala man was charged with battery after an elderly victim claimed he pushed her in the chest while drunk and deleted camera footage of the incident.
A Marion County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the home on June 8 in reference to a physical disturbance. During the call, the victim claimed 68-year-old David Rowley was intoxicated and had punched her in the chest during a verbal argument. The victim claimed she had weapons in the home including a pellet gun, according to the sheriff’s report.
Upon the deputy’s arrival, Rowley came to the door unarmed and was reported to be cooperative. The deputy put Rowley in the back of the patrol vehicle and made contact with the victim.
The victim claimed a verbal dispute happened outside of the home. The victim claimed when she turned away and walked back inside, Rowley followed her and slammed her in the chest. The victim claimed it knocked the wind out of her. The victim said there was camera footage of the incident but claimed Rowley deleted it. The victim said at no time did Rowley pick up a gun or threaten her, according to the report.
Rowley spoke to the deputy with a slurred speech and appeared drunk. Rowley admitted to drinking around ten alcoholic drinks and confirmed they were arguing in the backyard over a concrete house project they were working on. Rowley denied hitting the victim but admitted he did touch her chest but stated in a “loving and caressing way.” Rowley denied deleting camera footage of the incident and denied threatening the victim with any weapons or owning any, according to the report.
The camera footage available showed Rowley and the victim going in and out of the home. The deputy reported there appeared to be several lapses in the video, but was unable to confirm if any portion of the video was deleted due to the camera’s set up.
Based off the victim’s verbal statement, her signed written statement, and injuries observed on her chest, the deputy determined probable causes existed for the arrest, the report stated.
Rowley was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail with a bond set at $2,000. He was charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older. A court date is set for July 13 at 9 a.m., jail records show.