Local men arrested after separate domestic incidents
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Two Atmore men were arrested last week in connection with separate domestic disturbances, each accused of strangling the person with whom he was in disagreement.
The first incident took place on July 5, when city police were dispatched around 7:15 a.m. to a Diamond Avenue residence after a caller, who did not make the circumstances of the call known, reported that police were needed.
Witnesses told city officers that 21-year-old Devon Rashard Marcine Howard had become upset after a woman with whom he had previously been involved in a relationship, refused to answer his phone calls.
According to police reports, Howard “damaged a window and entered the house.” Once inside, he reportedly “grabbed the victim by the neck and began choking her.” The assault was reportedly witnessed by several people inside the house.
By the time officers arrived, Howard had left the residence. He was located a short time later and placed under arrest.
He remained late Monday in the Escambia County Detention Center, where he is being held under $75,000 bond on one count each of domestic violence –strangulation or suffocation, first-degree domestic violence – burglary, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and third-degree domestic violence –harassment.
The second incident occurred around 8:56 a.m. a day later, July 6, at a Terrace Street residence, to which police had been summoned in response to a reported domestic disturbance.
According to reports, officers arrived to find “a crowd in the roadway, arguing.” They were able to disperse the crowd and soon found out that Mark Oneal Hall, 46, and his unidentified stepfather had been arguing over a water hose, and the argument had escalated into a physical altercation.
Medics from ASAP EMS were called to the scene, where the older man was reportedly treated for a broken bone in his face.
According to an employee of the Escambia County Detention Center’s booking and release division, Hall remained in the facility late Monday, held under $75,000 bond on one count of second-degree domestic violence – strangulation or suffocation.