A Marion County man with a long rap sheet is back behind bars after deputies say he beat his ex-girlfriend and ran her over with a car during a violent encounter outside a home in Ocklawaha.
Jonathan Lamire Gardener, a repeat offender with battery convictions dating back to 2000, is now facing charges of aggravated battery (domestic), battery (second subsequent offense), and resisting arrest without violence.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the situation escalated on August 1 when Gardener allegedly attacked his ex after spotting a call from another man pop up on her phone. Lewis told deputies she was speaking to Gardener while he sat in a vehicle, but the conversation turned violent. She said Gardener began punching her and yanking her hair before she managed to escape — only to be struck moments later by the car as Gardener drove at her.
The impact left Lewis bloodied and bruised, with visible injuries to her leg, arm, and head. She fled on foot until she encountered a patrol car. Deputies said her shirt was stained with fresh blood and her hair was disheveled from the attack.
Gardener reportedly fled the scene, damaging multiple items in the yard on his way out. Deputies spotted his vehicle nearby and attempted a traffic stop, but Gardener refused to pull over. The slow-speed standoff ended after stop sticks were deployed, forcing him to stop. He was taken down and cuffed at the scene but refused to answer any questions.
Gardener’s car showed “severe damage” to the front end, according to the arrest report.
He was booked into the Marion County Jail on August 1 and released two days later on August 3.
