A 22-year-old Ocala man was arrested after a female victim accused him of punching and choking her during an altercation that occurred inside a local residence.
On Wednesday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to the local residence in reference to a physical altercation. Upon arrival, the female victim told the corporal that she had been attacked by Justin Raymond Clas.
According to the victim, Clas was upset because the victim was planning on going to a friend’s house. She stated that Clas grabbed her and began punching her all over her body.
The victim told the corporal that Clas threw her onto a bed, climbed on top of her, and held her down. His right hand then allegedly held her throat, and she recalled being unable to breathe.
When the victim began kicking, scratching, and biting Clas, she stated that he aggressively grabbed her by the hair. This caused a “chunk of hair” to be removed from her scalp.
The victim advised that Clas snatched her cellphone when she attempted to call 911. Clas then contacted one of the victim’s relatives, and eventually he returned the cellphone to the victim. Upon receiving the cellphone, the victim walked out of the residence and called 911.
The victim’s relative arrived at the residence, and the relative told the corporal that Clas was restraining the victim from behind. When Clas saw the relative, he let go of the victim.
Both the victim and the relative stated that Clas positioned his vehicle in front of the victim’s vehicle to prevent her from leaving. According to the relative, Clas was “verbally abusive” towards the victim during the incident.
The corporal made contact with Clas. While he admitted that he was angry at the victim and an argument had ensued, he denied attacking her. He told the corporal that he had placed his hands on the victim’s chest during the incident to prevent her from striking him.
The MCSO report indicated that Clas had minor injures to the left side of his neck, a small cut on his lower lip, and scratch marks on his left shoulder.
A neighbor told the corporal that there was a lot of screaming and yelling coming from the residence, and the neighbor had observed Clas chasing the victim around her vehicle.
Clas was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing felony charges for domestic battery by strangulation and hindering communication with a law enforcement officer, along with a misdemeanor charge for battery.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.