A 32-year-old Ocala man was arrested after a female victim accused him of grabbing her hair, striking her in the face, and shattering the driver’s side window of her sports utility vehicle.
On Saturday, July 16, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to an incident involving burglary with assault and criminal mischief. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the female victim who stated that the incident began shortly after she left her home.
When she drove away from her residence, she stated that Jerrly Lee Simmons, Jr. was in another vehicle and began to “drive aggressively.” She told the deputy that he attempted to run her off the road, and he allegedly “chased her through traffic.”
The victim stopped her vehicle once she arrived at a friend’s home. She stated that Simmons proceeded to exit his vehicle and approached the driver’s side of her SUV.
According to the victim, the driver’s side window was lowered by approximately three to six inches, and Simmons reached into the vehicle. He allegedly grabbed her hair, pulled her head towards the window, and began punching and slapping her face multiple times.
The victim advised that Simmons was “irate,” and he began hitting the driver’s side window until it shattered. In the MCSO report, the deputy observed that the window was shattered, and long strands of hair matching the victim’s hair were on the window. The deputy also observed that the victim’s lower lip had fresh bruising.
The damage to the victim’s vehicle was estimated at approximately $400, and she told the deputy that she wanted to pursue charges against Simmons.
After speaking with the victim, the deputy made contact with Simmons at another location and conducted an interview. According to the MCSO report, Simmons changed his statement multiple times.
Initially, Simmons told the deputy that he did not leave his residence, and he claimed to have only gotten into a verbal altercation with the victim. He later admitted that he went to the residence where the incident occurred.
The deputy observed fresh lacerations on Simmons’ right arm near his elbow that were consistent with being cut by glass. When asked how the injury occurred, he claimed that the victim had cut him with a knife. He then changed his statement and claimed that a cow had pushed him into a barbwire fence.
Simmons was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $22,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for burglary with assault or battery along with a misdemeanor charge for criminal mischief (over $200 in damages but less than $1,000).
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, August 16 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.