A 58-year-old Silver Springs man is behind bars after a woman accused him of throwing her to the kitchen floor and choking her during an argument over butter.
On Monday, March 25, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to a local residence after a neighbor reported that a woman inside the home was screaming for help. The neighbor stated that the female victim was also yelling, “Stop hitting me,” according to the arrest report.
The neighbor further advised that a man, identified in the report as Edward Blaha III, soon exited the victim’s home. When the neighbor asked Blaha what he had done to the victim, he allegedly yelled back, “I didn’t do anything.” He then left the area in a pickup truck.
The corporal soon arrived on the scene and made contact with the victim. The report stated that the victim had a red mark on her neck, which was “consistent (with) being strangled.” She also had “signs of petechiae” on both of her cheeks, a raspy voice, and she advised that it hurt to swallow liquids.
The victim told the corporal that she had gotten into a verbal altercation with Blaha earlier in the day while at a local grocery store, and the argument continued when they returned home. She stated that she went into a bedroom to get away from Blaha, according to the report.
While in the bedroom, the victim stated that Blaha began “screaming at her about where the butter is,” and he also asked her why dinner was not ready. According to the victim’s statement, another argument ensued when she went into the kitchen to get the butter for Blaha.
During this argument, the victim alleged that Blaha shoved her into the corner of the kitchen, and she grabbed a stick to protect herself. She then opened a window and began yelling for help, which angered Blaha, according to the report.
As the victim continued to yell, Blaha allegedly grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and grabbed her by the throat. She advised that she bit Blaha and struck him with a stick, and he eventually let go of her. After the incident, the report stated that Blaha left the residence.
The victim was medically cleared by Marion County Fire Rescue paramedics.
Nearly a week after the incident, on Sunday, March 31, Blaha was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. He is currently being held at the jail on a $5,000 bond, and he is being charged with domestic battery by strangulation.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, according to jail records.