A 62-year-old Williston man was arrested on a warrant this week after he allegedly choked a woman and threatened her with a machete during an incident that occurred in January.
On January 26, 2023, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a public location in Marion County in reference to an incident involving domestic battery and aggravated assault. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the female victim, according to the arrest report.
The victim advised that on January 23, she had worked with Harrell Shane Jeffries on a house located on NW 46th Avenue in Reddick, but he had refused to pay her for the work that was completed. She told the deputy that she saw Jeffries the following day because he had lost his cellphone and needed to use her phone to locate it, according to the MCSO report.
The victim advised that a couple days later, on January 26, Jeffries approached her near a tree in the road and requested for her to hand over her cellphone, which she refused. Jeffries allegedly began “fighting with her,” and he brought her to the ground and put his hands around her neck, according to the victim’s statement in the report.
During the incident, the victim stated that she was unable to breathe, and she soon fell unconscious. When she awoke, she advised that Jeffries was “standing over her with a machete.” The deputy noted in the report that the machete was described as being rusty and approximately two feet in length.
The victim told the deputy that Jeffries put the machete against her forehead, and she used her hand to move the weapon. She sustained a laceration on her palm, near her pinkie finger, and an abrasion on her ring finger. She stated that she fought back and managed to rip off Jeffries’ shirt, and he proceeded to run away moments later, according to the MCSO report.
The deputy observed cuts on the victim’s hand that were consistent with her statement. She told the deputy that she was frightened and thought she was going to die during the altercation.
A search of the area surrounding the incident location was conducted, and deputies were unable to locate Jeffries. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was later located and arrested on Thursday, May 18.
Jeffries was transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing felony charges for committing domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.