A 35-year-old Fort McCoy man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after a woman accused him of strangling her during an argument inside a local residence.
On Wednesday, May 17, an MCSO deputy responded to the incident location in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival at the home, the deputy made contact with the female victim who advised that the incident had involved Geoffrey Steven Ward, according to the arrest report.
The victim told the deputy that she had returned home after visiting her sibling, and Ward allegedly started an argument with her. She advised that she offered to have sex with Ward to “stop the argument,” according to the MCSO report.
The victim stated that Ward refused to have sex, and he allegedly proceeded to strangle her until she was unconscious. When she woke up, she advised that Ward was no longer at the residence. The deputy noted in the report that Ward drove a green Ford Ranger pickup truck, which was not at the incident location when law enforcement arrived.
According to the MCSO report, the victim became “uncooperative” shortly after describing the alleged incident. She refused medical attention, and she further refused to provide the deputy with Ward’s date of birth or cellphone number.
The deputy noted in the report that the victim had red marks and apparent bruising on her neck, and it appeared that she had urinated on herself during the alleged incident.
On Saturday, May 20, Ward was located, arrested, and transported to Marion County Jail. He was later released from jail on $2,500 bond, and he is facing a felony charge for committing domestic battery by strangulation.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, according to jail records.