A Summerfield woman found herself behind bars Sunday night after a nasty battle erupted over beer.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on SE 131st Place and when they arrived, 67-year-old Denise Jane Gales claimed that she had been shoved onto a bed by her ex-boyfriend, who still lives at the residence. Gales said he refused to leave the residence and she showed deputies a scratch on her wrist that she said happened during the confrontation.
Deputies attempted to speak with the man and finally had to call him on the phone to get him to come to the front door. He told deputies that Gales had returned home from work and had been drinking. He said she wanted more beer and he told her no, a sheriff’s office report states.
The man claimed Gales grabbed him by the collar and “demanded more beer.” He said he broke free and then locked himself in a spare bedroom. He added that he had scratches on his left wrist and neck and deputies noted that his collar was stretched out, the report says, adding that the man said he had been staying in the same room with Gales “due to her being his girlfriend.”
A witness told deputies that he heard the man yelling at Gales to “stop hitting him and let go of his shirt.” He said he exited his bedroom and saw Gales holding the man by the collar and demanding more beer. And he confirmed that the man broke free, ran into a spare bedroom and locked the door, the report says.
Gales, who also was arrested last month and charged with driving under the influence, was transported to the Marion County Jail. She was charged with domestic battery and released Monday night on her own recognizance. She is due in court Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. to answer to the charge.
