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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala man arrested for threatening male victim with gun, damaging car window

A 48-year-old Ocala man was arrested after he was accused of pointing a handgun at a male victim and threatening him.

On Friday, March 10, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the incident location in reference to a disturbance. Prior to arriving at the residence, the deputy made contact with the male victim via telephone, according to the MCSO report.

The victim told the deputy that he had dropped off his female friend at the incident location. Shortly after his friend exited the car, the victim stated that Jason Torres pulled into the driveway and proceeded to block the victim’s vehicle with his pickup truck.

Jason Torres
Jason Torres

According to the victim’s statement in the MCSO report, Torres was carrying a black 9mm handgun when he exited the driver’s seat of the pickup truck. The victim told the deputy that he locked his doors as Torres approached the passenger’s side of his car and began banging on the front passenger window with the firearm.

The victim advised that Torres then stepped away from the car, “cocked” the firearm, pointed it at the victim, and stated, “I’m going to kill you.” In order to get away from Torres, the victim advised that he had to drive his car through the neighbor’s yard.

While the victim was driving away from the incident location, he advised that he was afraid of being shot by Torres. He told the deputy that he observed his friend sitting on a bench in front of the garage, and Torres was “waiving the gun around” in front of his friend, according to the MCSO report.

The victim requested that the deputy conduct a well-being check on his friend. The deputy arrived at the incident location and made contact with the friend in front of the residence. She told the deputy that the victim had dropped her off at the home, and she had gone inside and did not witness any altercation, according to the report.

In the MCSO report, the deputy noted that the friend appeared intoxicated and “changed her story several times.” At one point during the interview, she advised that she was “mopping in the garage” when the incident occurred. She stated that Torres owns guns, but she claimed that she did not observe one during the incident with the victim.

The deputy made contact with Torres and noted in the report that he also appeared to be intoxicated. Torres initially claimed that “nothing happened” and he had only knocked on the victim’s window to tell him to “leave my (expletive) girl alone,” according to the MCSO report.

Torres opened the driver’s side door of his pickup truck and showed the deputy a set of trauma shears that he claimed had been used to knock on the victim’s window. While the door was open, the deputy noted in the report that a black handgun inside a holster was observed in the pocket of the door panel.

The deputy observed tire tracks in the grass between the driveway and the neighboring driveway. The deputy then responded to the victim’s residence and noted in the report that small scuff marks or scratches were visible on the front passenger side window of the victim’s vehicle. The damage was estimated at approximately $750.

According to the MCSO report, the deputy returned to the incident location and made contact with Torres. After being read his Miranda rights, Torres admitted that he “may have flashed his firearm” at the victim during the incident. He also admitted that he had used the handgun to knock on the victim’s window when he asked the victim to leave the property, though he denied making any threatening statements.

Torres was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $3,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and a misdemeanor charge for criminal mischief with property damage over $200 but less than $1,000.

A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, according to jail records.