Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Woman says husband hit her with the butt of gun

DADE CITY - A 32-year-old man is in jail after authorities said he hit his wife over the head with the butt of a gun, knocking her unconscious.

Marco Polo Ruiz-Gonzalez, 15324 Pinellas St., faces charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, aggravated domestic battery and simple domestic battery.

A Pasco County Sheriff's Office report said Ruiz-Gonzalez got into an argument with his wife, Juana Gomes Lopez, around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. He slapped her in the mouth and grabbed her by her hair, the report said.

Ruiz-Gonzalez dragged her into their house and pushed her in the chest, causing her to fall, the report said. When she began screaming for help, he dragged her by her hair into a bedroom and held her down on a bed.

The report saids Ruiz-Gonzalez then started choking his wife before pulling a handgun and threatening to kill her.

With the butt of the gun, he struck her on the left side of her head, leaving her unconscious, the report said.

Ruiz-Gonzalez was asleep when the woman awoke about 30 minutes later. She went to a neighbor's house to call 911.

After his arrest, Ruiz-Gonzalez told deputies he had been drinking and the cut on his wife's head was caused by a fall. He denied using a weapon, the report said.

Ruiz-Gonzalez remained in the county jail at Land O'Lakes on Sunday. Bail was set at $25,500.

PORT RICHEY - A fire that started in a bedroom destroyed a house on Fox Hollow Drive early Saturday. One man suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation, authorities said.

Stories differ on what started the blaze at 8531 Fox Hollow Drive.

Patrick Nann, 19, who was staying in the house, told deputies a high-voltage bulb in a lamp ignited the fire, the Sheriff's Office report said. Nann was treated for burns on his hands and back and smoke inhalation.

But Pasco County fire investigator Brian Johnson said the source was a ceramic bowl, a pair of vise grips and some electrical wiring found in the corner of a bedroom. Johnson said Nann might have been branding himself or "using the wiring for unknown reasons," the report said.

Nann did not have any recent wounds on his arms and denied trying to hurt himself, the report said.

Nann's stepfather, 45-year-old Mark McDonald of Hudson, was sleeping in another bedroom when the fire started. He escaped unhurt, the report said.

The damage was estimated at $20,000. Johnson, the fire investigator, ruled the fire accidental, the report said.

BAYONET POINT - A 47-year-old man held his girlfriend in a room against her will for two hours Saturday, authorities said.

Joseph A. Coffua, 8500 Hunting Saddle Drive, faces charges of false imprisonment and domestic battery.

A Sheriff's Office report said Coffua got into an argument around 7 p.m. Saturday with his girlfriend of 11/2 years, who was not identified. The report said he held the woman in a bedroom, threatening to throw her in the pool if she tried to leave.

He also pulled her hair, pushed her in the face and threatened her with a sword while holding her on the bed, the report said.

Coffua was released Sunday from the Pasco County jail at Land O'Lakes on $5,000 bail.

DADE CITY - An 18-year-old woman cut another person on the forehead with a knife Saturday night during a fight, a Sheriff's Office report said.

Dorothy L. Strickland, 14740 State St., faces charges of aggravated battery.

The report said Strickland pulled a knife during a dispute around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at State Street and Marshall Drive. A witness tried to separate her and the victim, who was not identified. Strickland then attacked the victim, who suffered a 3-inch cut to the forehead.

Strickland was released Sunday from the county jail.

ZEPHYRHILLS - A 51-year-old man is accused of intentionally striking a man with his car Saturday night.

Bernard George Kavanagh of 5747 Cranbrook Drive faces charges of aggravated battery.

The arrest report said Kavanagh swerved into a man standing by the roadway in front of 5811 Apollo St. around 7 p.m. Saturday. The man rolled onto the hood of the car and suffered a cut to his left palm.

Kavanagh posted bail Sunday and was released from county jail.