A resident of The Cove Apartments in Lady Lake was arrested for allegedly sending threatening texts to his ex-girlfriend after a custody exchange.
The ex-girlfriend of 24-year-old Ronnie Darnell Merriweather exchanged custody of their children at her Marion County residence at 12:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
However, when he got out of his vehicle, he took a firearm from the driver’s door panel and loaded it with a magazine in front of her. He then put the firearm in his pants pocket before handing the children over to her. He got back in his vehicle only to park in front of her home for a few minutes and eventually drove away, the report said.
About 20 minutes later, the ex-girlfriend got several text messages calling her “shameful” and a “disgusting human being.” Merriweather told her she had “something coming” for her, saying she could have just left him alone and that he would “never forgive” her for it, the report said.
The ex-girlfriend told law enforcement that he was upset and jealous, as their children were talking about her new boyfriend to him. Indeed, on Saturday, Nov. 15, she was speaking with him on the phone when he expressed his frustration about it. During this conversation, he threatened to “beat” her and her new boyfriend, the report said.
Merriweather scared her, as he had exchanged custody of their children on numerous occasions without displaying a firearm. She continued to report her fear, as he had been violent in the past by breaking his things around her when upset, the report said
Law enforcement kept in touch with the ex-girlfriend, calling her on Friday to follow up. She had no new information to share despite keeping in communication with him. The situation had calmed up to that point, the report said.
A deputy also called Merriweather to ask about the situation. He advised that he always carried his gun in his pants when he was outside. He added he was upset at the ex-girlfriend because she was bringing a man who he did not know around their children, the report said.
He felt she did not know the man well enough to bring him into the home, and he would protect his children against this unknown man. He denied threatening the ex-girlfriend and stated he was referring to karma in the text messages. He believed “karma” would be seeking revenge on her, the report said.
But on Saturday, law enforcement got another call for service from the ex-girlfriend. She advised that he was at her residence in a black SUV and arguing with her over the timeshare of their children. He was angry, possibly armed and refusing to leave the home, the report said.
A deputy went out to the residence and found Merriweather pacing next to his vehicle. Upon making eye contact with the deputy, he put his hands up and walked toward him. The deputy saw a clear outline of a firearm in his right pants pocket, which he retrieved for safety. It was loaded with a magazine containing 9mm rounds, the report said.
Once Merriweather was detained, the deputy determined the SUV was parked about 5ft from the front porch. It seemed Merriweather immediately jumped out of his vehicle when he parked there, as the stereo was still at a high volume with the driver’s window completely open, the report said.
The ex-girlfriend subsequently came out of her home, looking distressed and afraid. She shook as she recalled trying to meet Merriweather at Walmart to exchange the children. He refused to do so and arrived unannounced at her home in a different vehicle than what he normally drove. She was scared, and with his initial violent behavior, she did not know what his intentions were, the report said.
Merriweather claimed he wanted his children, but the ex-girlfriend was not letting him see them. He first stated he had a text message where she allowed him to come to the home for them, yet he could not show it to the deputy. He later switched his story to say this was in a phone call, the report said.
He was ultimately arrested on charge of intimidation (written/electronic threat to kill or bodily harm another). He was transported to Marion County Jail and released after posting $2,500 bond.