A 52-year-old Ocala man was arrested after allegedly beating a female victim and threatening to shoot her with a handgun.
On Wednesday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a domestic disturbance.
A man had called MCSO and reported that Keith Dwayne Strozier was beating on a female victim.
According to the man, the victim had told him in a text message that Strozier was getting a firearm and had threatened to kill her.
The deputy observed a black Cadillac pull up to the residence, and Strozier and the female victim were both located inside the vehicle.
The deputy observed numerous injuries on the victim which included swelling on her forearm, scratches and bruising on her upper arm, swelling on the left side of her head, and a bruise on her chest.
The victim told the deputy that Strozier had been drinking and arrived at her residence earlier in the day. An argument ensued, and he allegedly started punching her all over her body.
She stated that the physical abuse lasted for several hours, and Strozier allegedly told her numerous times that he was going to kill her and anyone that she tried to contact for help.
While Strozier allegedly threatened to smash the victim’s cellphone, he did not keep the cellphone away from her. She was too fearful to attempt a phone call, but she did send multiple text messages to a male friend who then alerted the deputy.
According to the victim, Strozier eventually demanded that she leave her residence and travel with him to his home. She initially refused, and he allegedly told her that if she failed to go with him, he would “return to the residence and shoot at least 100 holes in it.”
Strozier allegedly punched the victim multiple times, forced her outside, and she entered his vehicle.
Strozier drove them to his home and retrieved a handgun. During the drive back to the victim’s residence, he allegedly pointed the handgun at her and made threats to kill her.
When Strozier arrived back at her residence, the deputy was already on the scene. Strozier and the victim were immediately separated once they stepped outside the vehicle.
Strozier denied hitting the victim and claimed that the only bruises he knew about were caused by the victim’s dog. When the deputy asked additional questions, Strozier stated he was not going to admit to anything.
The victim told the deputy that Strozier had tucked the handgun between his seat and the center console once he spotted the deputy.
A handgun was located inside the vehicle where the victim had described. A computer check on Strozier revealed a felony conviction in November of 2013.
Strozier was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $27,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, weapon possession by a convicted felon, and false imprisonment of an adult.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on February 1, 2022, according to jail records.