A 65-year-old Silver Springs man has been arrested on an aggravated battery charge after he reportedly struck his neighbor in the face with a metal pole during a dispute over dead chickens.
On Tuesday, June 2, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home located on NE 174th Court in Silver Springs in reference to a physical altercation involving neighbors. Upon arrival, deputies observed that the victim was bleeding from a “large laceration to his nose,” according to the arrest report.
The victim and his girlfriend informed deputies that they were on their property when one of their neighbors, identified as Larry Edward Edgemon, confronted them. Edgemon allegedly accused the couple’s dogs of “getting out and killing his chickens.”
When the couple told Edgemon that their dogs had not harmed his chickens, Edgemon reportedly briefly left before returning with a “metal pole.” He then allegedly “chest-bumped” the victim before striking him in the face with the pole, which knocked him to the ground.
After the altercation, Edgemon reportedly walked back to his residence.
The report mentioned that a pool of blood was located in the victim’s yard, along with broken eyeglasses. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Deputies located Edgemon at his home, and he was taken into custody. After being read his Miranda rights, Edgemon chose to remain silent, though he briefly claimed that he was the one who was attacked, according to the report.
Edgemon was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he remains in custody. His bond has been set at $15,000, and he is being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
A court date for Edgemon has not yet been scheduled, according to jail records.