A 25-year-old Ocala man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill a victim after bruising, bloodying, and strangling her during an erratic car ride.
On Monday, October 4, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a mobile home park in northeast Ocala in reference to several 911 hang up calls.
According to the MCSO report, deputies in the area located a female victim with a disfigured nose, a bloody lip, and several bruises all over her body.
According to the victim, she and Robert Wayne Manning were traveling in her car when a verbal altercation ensued. The victim states that Manning, who was driving erratically, started screaming at her and threatened to kill them both.
When the vehicle reached the 3000 block of NE 35th Street, the victim said Manning drove into the grass on the south side of the road and exited the vehicle. The victim says she attempted to exit the vehicle and flee on foot, but was pushed, straddled, and choked to the ground by Manning.
According to the victim, Manning struck her in the face several times and dragged her back into the vehicle.
Manning then allegedly drove to Sterling Pointe Apartments on NE 48th Terrace where he parked and continued to attack the victim.
The report indicates that Manning then drove to a local church, revved up his engine, and stated again that he was going to kill them both. At that point, the victim spotted a patrolling MCSO deputy and was able to exit the vehicle as Manning drove off.
Deputies searched for Manning with the victim until they located him on NW 1st Avenue.
When questioned, Manning told deputies that the fight started because he snatched the victim’s phone from her hand on the car ride home. Manning denied strangling the victim and instead says that she attacked him.
Manning was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail on Monday, October 4. He faces several felony charges, including domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment. He has no bond set and his next court date has not yet been scheduled, according to jail records.