An Ocala man was jailed Tuesday after allegedly knocking a tooth out of a man who disrespected his son.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded to a hospital in reference to a battery, according to an arrest report. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the victim who advised that while at his home, he and 22-year-old Jaime Martinez De La Cruz had been in a verbal argument for most of the day.
The victim said he sent his sister a text message complaining about the arguing, but then De La Cruz unexpectedly saw the text message and became very angry. De La Cruz approached the victim in the garage and punched him in the face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground. The victim told deputies that when he fell to the ground, he was unconscious for an undetermined amount of time.
Deputies spoke with medical staff, who advised that the victim had a laceration on his upper lip that extended into his oral cavity, which would require stitches. The victim also had a front tooth that was knocked from his mouth, as well as another tooth traumatically displaced. Deputies made contact with De La Cruz at the residence located on SW 145th Place.
De La Cruz told deputies he punched the victim in the mouth for “disrespecting his son,” according to the report. He was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail.
Bond was set at $2,000.
