A 40-year-old Ocala man was arrested after allegedly attacking a woman inside of a tent.
On Sunday, October 24 around 6:30 p.m., a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to an Ocala residence in reference to a physical confrontation.
The female victim stated that she had allowed a man to stay on her property for the past several weeks, and that man had attacked her.
She told the deputy that Daniel Ronald Zmuda was staying in a tent located in the back of her property in exchange for handling all of the lawn maintenance work.
She stated that she was walking toward the laundry room, which is located near the tent, when Zmuda asked her to come inside to speak with him. She entered the tent and sat down.
Inside the tent, she allegedly spotted what looked to be illegal drugs and alcohol. She told him that he is not allowed to have those items on her property, and she got up to leave.
According to the victim, Zmuda grabbed her by the waist and threw her onto the bed. While she screamed to be let go, Zmuda allegedly stood her up repeatedly and then pushed her back to the bed.
During the altercation, she was able to call 911 and open the tent door. Zmuda’s pants allegedly fell to the ground, and this allowed for her to run out of the tent.
She told the deputy that she feared for her life since Zmuda is a foot taller and is nearly twice her weight.
The deputy noticed that several of the victim’s red nails were broken with dried blood on her fingers.
The broken fingernails were located inside Zmuda’s tent.
Zmuda was arrested and refused to move on his own. Deputies lifted him, carried him to the patrol car, and forced him inside, according to the report.
Zmuda was transported to Marion County Jail and faces several felony charges for false imprisonment of an adult and battery.
He is currently being held on $11,000 bond. No court date has been scheduled yet, according to jail records.