A 43-year-old Dunnellon man is facing battery charges after a woman accused him of headbutting her and choking her with a mosquito net.
On Thursday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a battery incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a man, identified as Tyrone Electius Moreland, who advised that no altercation had occurred, according to the arrest report.
While at the residence, the deputy made contact with the female victim. She stated that there have been recent issues with Moreland due to his drug use, and she mentioned that he has been “in and out of rehab,” according to the MCSO report.
The victim stated that Moreland was at the incident location between 3 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., and he had allegedly told her that he was “high.” While inside the residence, the victim advised that Moreland began looking for items that belonged to him.
According to the victim, Moreland found a mosquito net, and he attempted to get her to wear the net as clothing. Moments later, she advised that Moreland wrapped the netting around her head and neck, and he allegedly pulled her head towards the floor. She stated that her head was then pulled between her legs, and she had difficulty breathing, according to the MCSO report.
When the victim informed Moreland that she was unable to breathe, he allegedly pulled her head up while the mosquito net remained on her head and neck. According to the victim, Moreland then proceeded to headbutt her, and the deputy noted in the report that she had a lump on the left side of her temple that was slightly pink/red in color.
The MCSO report stated that the deputy returned to Moreland, and he claimed that the only physical contact with the victim had been a consensual sexual encounter inside the residence. The victim disputed this claim and told the deputy that she did not have any sexual contact with Moreland during this incident.
Moreland was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $7,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for domestic battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor charge for domestic battery causing bodily harm.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15, according to jail records.