Neighborhood
Disturbance Leads to Arrest
The LCSO responded to a 911 call
for assistance in the Ocala Highlands West area of Morriston, Florida
on August 19 at approximately half past midnight. The male caller told 911
operators that he and his wife had been in an argument with the neighbor across
the street and that he had been injured.
When Deputies arrived on scene
and contacted the victims, they were told that during the argument the neighbor
struck the male victim twice with the butt of a shotgun. The victim had been struck once in the face
and once on the back of his head. He escaped and fled to his home. The suspect
then grabbed the female victim, professed his love for her and told her that he
wanted her to come to Mexico
with him. She was able to talk him into releasing her unharmed. As she was
running to safety she heard two gunshots fired from the direction of Suspect’s
home.
Deputies were told the suspect,
whom they identified as Hector Soto, returned to his home located across the
street. Deputies cautiously approached the home and utilized their PA system to
call to Soto. The deputies got no response from anyone inside the home.
Deputies from the Patrol,
Criminal Investigations and Drug Task Force Units established a perimeter at
the home. The Deputies maintained the
perimeter throughout the night time hours.
Shortly after daybreak the Deputies entered the property in an attempt
to locate the suspect. The home was found to be empty. Investigators later
received a tip that Soto had made his way to Marion County.
With the assistance of the Ocala Police Department, LCSO Investigators located
Soto in the Ocala area of Marion County
and took him into custody.
LCSO Investigators subsequently
obtained a search warrant for the residence in Ocala Highlands West. The search of the property revealed that Soto
was also cultivating marijuana. Evidence indicating the Suspect had been
using multiple aliases was also found inside the home. A search of State arrest records indicated
the suspect had previously been arrested under the name of Jose Angel Gomez.
Soto, AKA Gomez, was booked into
the Levy County Detention Bureau. He was
charged with Aggravated Battery, Attempted Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault and
Cultivation of Cannabis. His bond has been set at $1.125 million dollars.
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