A 31-year-old Weirsdale man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of striking and choking a woman during an argument over laundry.

On Friday, December 9, two MCSO deputies responded to a local residence in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, one of the deputies made contact with the female victim who advised that she had been in a physical altercation with Ryan Michael Slyke.

According to the victim, Slyke woke her up and began accusing her of bleaching his clothes. The victim advised that she did not bleach any of Slyke’s clothes and she was unsure what had happened to his clothing.

The victim told the deputy that Slyke began pouring bleach onto clothes that belonged to the victim and one of her children. She then alleged that Slyke began to punch and slap her, according to the MCSO report.

When the victim attempted to go around Slyke, he grabbed her by the neck in the living room, and her ability to breathe was briefly restricted, according to the victim. She told the deputy that she was suffering from headaches and light dizziness from the incident.

The victim advised that Slyke ordered her and her children to stay on the couch in the living room. She alleged that Slyke continued to slap her while she was next to her children on the couch. When the opportunity arose, the victim stated that she left the residence, screamed for help, and a neighbor contacted law enforcement.

The deputy noted in the MCSO report that the victim’s voice appeared to be raspy and she had a laceration on her neck.

One of the victim’s children was interviewed by the deputy and claimed to have observed Slyke grabbing the victim’s neck, pushing her onto the couch, and slapping her every time she tried to speak. The child advised that the victim was eventually able to get up from the couch and leave the residence, according to the MCSO report.

The deputy made contact with Slyke. After being read his Miranda rights, Slyke stated that he was questioning the victim about his bleached clothing when she began arguing with him. He claimed that the victim began to shove him “in the neck area,” which caused scratches around his neck.

Slyke advised that he pushed the victim in order to get her away from him, and he denied that any other physical contact had occurred between himself and the victim. He claimed that the victim was “lying” and “just wants him arrested.”

The deputy noted in the MCSO report that Slyke had scratch marks near his neck.

Slyke was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $10,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for committing domestic battery by strangulation.

A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, according to jail records.

An autistic Weirsdale man who was off his medications punched a deputy multiple times while being arrested for allegedly battering two women, including one over the age of 65, during a violent outburst.

Joshua Lowell Gibbs, 31, was charged with battery on an officer, domestic battery on a person 65 years of age or older, and simple domestic battery after the incident, which happened Wednesday nights. He was also placed under the Baker Act because of multiple suicidal statements he made.

Marion County deputies met with Gibbs outside the residence when they arrived. He refused to talk to them and said the only help he needed was for a deputy to shoot him. He made that request multiple times and continued to say he wouldn’t speak with deputies because they couldn’t help him, according to the sheriff’s office report.

Gibbs turned around and started to walk away from the deputies, who asked him to stop. Gibbs again said they couldn’t help him and continued to walk away. When deputies asked Gibbs again to stop walking, he turned around and started yelling for them to leave him alone. While deputies explained why he couldn’t leave, Gibbs punched one of them multiple times in the face and chest before being subdued and detained, the report said.

The witness who called law enforcement said he, Gibbs and one of the victims were playing cards at the kitchen table. The witness said he started speaking about the news, which made Gibbs upset because he doesn’t like talking about the news. The witness said Gibbs walked into the living room, broke his own cell phone and started throwing things, according to the report.

The witness said the victim tied to calm Gibbs, and he grabbed her by the shirt and started yelling at her. He said the other female victim tried to calm Gibbs and get him to release the first victim, and he pushed her out of the way and punched her before walking outside, the report said.

Both victims confirmed the witness’ account. One of them said Gibbs suffers from autism, sensory integrated dysfunction and obsessive compulsive disorder. She said he was on medication for his mental illness but had not been taking them – by his own decision – since August 2019, according to the report.

Gibbs was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $3,000 bond. He’s due to appear in Marion County Court on May 26.

A Weirsdale man was arrested after a neighbor reported that he battered a woman during an argument.

Joseph William Wise III, 50, of South Highway 25, was charged with domestic battery (second or subsequent offense) and domestic battery by strangulation after the incident, which happened around 2 a.m. Monday at Wise’s residence.

The neighbor told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy she could hear the couple arguing from inside her residence. She said shortly after she heard the yelling, she got a call from the victim, who said Wise had struck her in the face and choked her, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The neighbor said she walked over to the home, saw the victim had a red mark on her neck, and got into an argument with Wise before calling 911. She said the victim has told her of other incidents in the past where Wise has been physical with her, the report said.

Wise told the deputy he and the victim had a verbal argument and that it never became physical. He said the neighbor just wanted to get him in trouble. The officer observed what appeared to be a fresh scratch on the front of Wise’s bicep, which he said he got from working earlier in the day, according to the report.

The victim was clearly distraught as she spoke to the deputy. She initially said she was fine, and that Wise didn’t put his hands on her. However, she later said he did slap her in the face with an open hand. The deputy observed the victim’s neck was read all the way around. When he asked her about it, she became silent, the report said.

The deputy talked to the victim about Wise’s alleged history of violence towards her and she finally admitted Wise wrapped his arm around her neck for more than 10 seconds and squeezed enough for her to become dizzy. She said she scratched at Wise to get him off and he released his grip shortly before the neighbor came to the residence, according to the report.

The deputy observed the victim’s eyes were bloodshot, which could be an indication of strangulation. The victim said she was seeing stars when Wise had her by the throat. She said she didn’t want to tell the deputy what happened because she was afraid for Wise to go to jail, the report said.

When Wise was being placed under arrest, he told the deputy he was the victim because the victim pushed him and that is how he got the scratch on his arm. The deputy didn’t observe any other marks on him, according to the report.

Wise was lodged in the Marion County Jail, where he was being held Wednesday on $10,000 bond. He’ll appear in Marion County Court on July 30.

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WEIRSDALE, Fla. (WCJB) - On Thursday morning just after nine o’clock Marion County Fire Rescue units were called to a mobile home fire in Weirsdale where the roof was engulfed in flames.

“Usually when I come out of the house she sometimes sits on her porch so I always glance over to see if I want to wave to her. Well I glanced over and at the same time I heard the fire department show up and then I immediately called her because I didn’t know if her boys were in the house,” said neighbor Billie Smith.

Several crews arrived on the scene quickly putting the fire out. They searched the home and no one was inside.

But when Smith called her neighbor she was devastated because the family has been going through a lot.

“She lost her husband in October to COVID so she’s been out working odd jobs, she’s cleaning houses, doing lawn work. Her boys are our for summer so she’s trying to spend time with them as well as working.”

Fire officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The grandmother who lives behind the family’s home said her youngest grandson was thinking about his dad when he saw his home in ruins.

“He was crying so emotionally he kept grabbing his little eyes because he wanted to be strong but he couldn’t and he kept saying my daddy’s pictures, but what about my daddy’s pictures. They’re burned he said they’re burned.”

Red Cross came out to assist the homeowners but now the inside of the home and roof were destroyed.

They’ll have to find a way to pick up the pieces and find a new place to call home.

If you would like to help you can click on the link below.

Mobile home fire

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A 51-year-old Weirsdale man was arrested during Tuesday’s meeting of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners after making threats towards a commissioner regarding the prior confiscation of his shotgun.

On Tuesday, October 5, a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to the McPherson Governmental Complex in reference to a disturbance during the regular meeting of the Board of Marion County Commissioners.

Upon arrival at the complex, which is located at 601 SE 25th Avenue in Ocala, a deputy made contact with James Thomas Otto. Officials and witnesses say Otto was allegedly making threats against an elected official and preventing the meeting from concluding, according to an MCSO report.

After being warned not to speak, Otto allegedly told Commissioner Kathy Bryant that he had gone to court and “got his gun back,” according to the report. Otto then allegedly pointed to Bryant and repeated the phrase, “You’re out of here,” a total of three times.

According to the report, Bryant felt threatened and left the meeting before Chairman Jeff Gold ordered Otto to leave.

The report states that Otto continued to disrupt the meeting until an off-duty officer that happened to be in attendance approached Otto and placed him into custody.

The off-duty officer noted Otto’s speech was slurred, and after he was questioned, Otto advised that he had consumed three beers.

Otto is currently on pre-trial release after he was arrested on April 7 for allegedly driving with a suspended license, possession of cannabis, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

As part of his arrest on April 7, Otto’s shotgun was seized and has remained in the custody of MCSO. He has allegedly approached numerous government officials, persons from the clerk of court, and sheriff’s office staff asking that his shotgun be returned to him.

According to the report, Otto has repeatedly blamed Commissioner Bryant on public record regarding the confiscation of his shotgun and it not being returned to him.

The MCSO report states that Otto appeared in court earlier in the day on October 5 and that he was disruptive during the appearance. The State Attorney’s office advised that his case has not been dismissed and that no order has been issued to return his shotgun.

Since Otto is on pre-trial release in another case, he is currently being held without bond until his first appearance hearing.

Due to his alleged threatening behavior, the sheriff’s office recommends that Otto has no further contact with Bryant, that he stays away from the McPherson Government Complex and the Board of County Commissioners, that he does not possess or attempt to possess any firearm or ammunition, that he does not possess or consume alcohol or controlled substances, and that he does not enter any bars, nightclubs, or other similar establishments that sell alcohol.

He faces a slew of additional misdemeanor charges as a result of the incident, including threatening to harm an elected official and breach of the peace.