A Leesburg man is accused of battering and strangling his girlfriend and taking away her phone so she couldn’t call 911 to report it.
Ryan Lamar Salvatore, 28, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation and obstructing justice after the incident, which happened between early last Wednesday at the home he shares with the victim on Harbor Shores Road. Salvatore and the victim have two children in common and have lived together for four years, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim told a deputy that Salvatore arrived home from the bar at around 2:25 a.m. and started banging loudly on the door because he left his keys in the truck. She said once she opened the door to let him in, he immediately started screaming at her and accused her of cheating with the neighbor’s cousin, the report said.
The victim said Salvatore then followed her to the living room and continued yelling, so she walked outside to get away. She said he followed her outside while continuing to yell at her and accuse her of having sex with someone else, according to the report.
The victim said once they were both outside, she started walking towards the back stairs to go back inside. She said Salvatore picked up a metal object, threw it at the grill and yelled “(expletive deleted)’s about to get real.” The victim said she went back inside the home and Salvatore followed her, the report said.
The victim said she called Salvatore’s mother to see if she could calm him down and he “snatched” the phone out of her hand, causing the pop-socket on the back of the phone to break. She said Salvatore walked towards the back door and she followed him so she could get her phone back and call 911. The victim said as Salvatore was walking out the back door, she tried to grab the phone and he shoved her into the door frame, according to the report.
The victim said she struggled with Salvatore to get her phone back and he grabbed her by the throat, shoved her against the wall and started choking her. She said he squeezed her throat for about 10 seconds, causing her to have trouble breathing. The victim said she grabbed Salvatore by the testicles and squeezed, causing him to shove her backwards. She said they both tripped over a space heater and the victim was finally able to get her phone from Salvatore, the report said.
The victim said she got up and started running towards the living room. She said Salvatore shoved her, but she was able to get to the front door and run outside. The victim said Salvatore followed her outside and continued threatening her, according to the report.
The deputy observed the victim had red marks on her neck consistent with being choked and several minor abrasions on the neck and left shoulder area as well, the report said.
Salvatore was visibly intoxicated as he told the deputy that he recently discovered the victim was cheating on him and he came home from the bar to confront her. He said he had video on his phone to prove that no battery occurred, but he was unable to provide it, according to the report.
Salvatore was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released later Wednesday on $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on April 5.
