A 46-year-old Dunnellon man was arrested for allegedly choking a woman in an RV during an argument over her relationship with a male friend.
On Wednesday, one of the victim’s co-workers contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to report that the victim had been battered by Michael Reid Truax. The victim had called the co-worker and allegedly stated that Truax had “grabbed her by the neck” and “strangled her,” according to the MCSO report.
The report stated that an MCSO deputy responded to the incident location and made contact with Truax. He advised that he had been having drinks with the victim and her male friend when he “got jealous” of the victim’s relationship with the friend.
Truax told the deputy that a verbal argument ensued with the victim. During the argument, he advised that he “got frustrated” and punched a mirror, leaving cuts on his knuckles. He stated that the victim was intoxicated, and he told the deputy that the victim proceeded to hit him, which left scratch marks on his back and arms, according to the MCSO report.
After the altercation, Truax advised that the victim left the area on a golf cart and headed towards the front of the RV resort to be picked up by the co-worker she had called.
The deputy noted in the report that the victim was located near a Circle K gas station, and she told the deputy that Truax “has not been taking his medication for schizophrenia and hallucinations.” She stated that Truax has been “hearing footsteps” in the RV where the incident occurred, and he allegedly believed that the victim had “built a wall to hide men from him.”
During the incident, the victim advised that Truax began “yelling at her and punching things” inside the RV. He then allegedly threw her on the bed, climbed on top of her, and grabbed her by the neck with his left hand, according to the MCSO report.
The victim stated that Truax then squeezed her throat until she was unable to breathe, and she hit him multiple times and attempted to rip his shirt off to get away. According to the victim’s statement, she heard a “crunching noise” while her neck was being squeezed, and she nearly lost consciousness.
The incident ended when Truax heard a noise near the RV, and the victim stated that she grabbed some of her belongings and left the RV. The deputy noted in the report that the victim had multiple bruises on her arm and a “prominent mark” on her neck where she had allegedly been grabbed by Truax.
Truax was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $2,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for domestic battery by strangulation.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, according to jail records.