A 35-year-old Ocala man was arrested after a female victim accused him of striking and choking her during an argument.
On Thursday, June 30, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a domestic battery incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the female victim who advised that David Michael Morgan had “smacked her in the face” and choked her during a verbal argument.
According to the victim, Morgan had gotten physical with her in the past, but she stated that the violence has increasingly become worse. Over the past two weeks, she stated that she called law enforcement three times regarding instances of violence involving Morgan.
The victim stated that the most recent incident occurred on Thursday when she was inside the camper trailer with Morgan. She advised that she had repeatedly asked Morgan to move out of the trailer.
When the victim got up to use the bathroom, Morgan allegedly became argumentative and started to throw items around the trailer. She stated that Morgan proceeded to smash the trailer’s windows, which caused glass to fall onto the floor.
The victim stated that she went towards the front of the trailer and sat on the bed. Morgan allegedly approached her, struck her in the face on the right cheek near her eye, and then struck her a second time.
While on the bed, the victim reached for her cellphone and attempted to call a friend. Morgan allegedly grabbed a container full of water and dumped it on both the victim and the cellphone that she was holding.
The victim advised she attempted to leave the trailer, but Morgan blocked the only exit. She recalled being pushed to the floor by Morgan, and the glass that was on the floor sliced her knees open in a series of small cuts that began to bleed.
During this time, the victim claimed that she attempted to crawl out of the residence when Morgan grabbed her and placed her into a chokehold. The victim stated that she was able to breathe, but she was fearful for her life.
When Morgan let go, the victim stated that she found her cellphone and called law enforcement.
The deputy observed that the victim was “wet to the touch,” and she had bruises in various stages of healing over both of her arms along with fresh bruises from the most recent incident. Dried blood was observed on her right cheek and on the left side of her neck. The area around her right eye was also bruised and swollen, and the deputy noted that the victim’s right knee was “cut up from glass.”
All of the trailer’s windows were broken and glass was observed on the inside of the trailer in the area where the victim had recalled being pushed down by Morgan.
Morgan was located near the back of the property. As he was being placed into handcuffs, Morgan asked the deputy, “Can I get my weed out of my pockets first?” He then grabbed a small plastic bag that was filled with a green leafy substance that later field-tested positive for marijuana.
When asked to clarify what had happened, Morgan claimed that the victim had been the aggressor the whole time and that all he was trying to do was “leave the situation.” He admitted to throwing water on the victim and “smacking the victim on the forehead,” though he denied the victim’s other allegations.
Morgan was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $11,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for domestic battery by strangulation, damaging an electronic device, and false imprisonment of an adult, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana (20 grams or less).
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, August 2 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.