Man arrested for choking and swinging hammer at girlfriend

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jabar Darnel Colley, 22, was arrested yesterday for two domestic battery incidents; on July 20, he allegedly slapped the victim and closed a door on her hand, and on July 25, he allegedly choked her and swung a hammer at her.

On July 20, the victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that she and Colley got into an argument, and she asked him to leave her home, but he refused. She said he swung a closed fist at her leg but opened his hand at the last second and “smacked” her leg. When he still refused to leave, she said she tried to leave, but Colley closed the door of the apartment on her hand; he then left her home.

The officer reported that the victim had a hand-shaped red mark on her leg and an open laceration on her hand that was bleeding and swelling.

On July 25, Colley allegedly grabbed the victim by her throat during an argument, impeding her breathing, and slammed her to the ground. She said they wrestled until she pushed him away, and then she ran out of her apartment, with Colley chasing her. She said Colley grabbed a hammer and swung it at her, and she was in fear for her safety.

The officer noted that the victim had red marks around her neck, and a hammer was reportedly found on the floor inside the residence.

Post Miranda, Colley reportedly said that he and the victim fight a lot, and the fights have gotten physical. He said the victim kicked him in the knee, and the officer noted that his knee was bleeding. Colley denied choking the victim or threatening her with a hammer during this incident, but he said he might have grabbed her by the throat in previous fights.

Colley, whose address is listed as Tampa, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery. His full criminal history is unavailable. Judge David Kreider set bail on the domestic battery charge at $25,000 and ordered him held without bail on the aggravated assault charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.