A Dunnellon man is behind bars after he allegedly threatened to slice his girlfriend’s throat during an argument over $300.
On Thursday, June 13, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a verbal altercation. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a man, identified as Steve Edward McLellan, who claimed that his girlfriend had stolen money from him, according to the arrest report.
McLellan told the deputy that he had sent $300 to his girlfriend for her to deposit into her account. He added that his girlfriend was “supposed to give (him) the money back,” according to the report.
The report stated that the deputy informed McLellan that this was a civil matter. McLellan then became “highly upset” and admitted to sending threatening text messages to his girlfriend.
In those text messages, McLellan told his girlfriend, “If you don’t give me my (expletive) money today I will come down there and slice your (expletive) throat open,” according to the report.
McLellan was placed under arrest. The deputy noted that a pat-down search was conducted, and approximately one gram of cocaine was found inside McLellan’s wallet.
McLellan was transported to a local hospital for an evaluation. After being medically cleared, he was taken to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with possession of cocaine and sending a written threat to kill or do bodily harm.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, according to jail records.