OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Ocala Police Department arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with two shooting incidents, a battery and property damage that occurred June 12.
According to OPD, officers responded at approximately 4:15 p.m. to reports of a gunshot fired from a moving vehicle near NE Eighth Avenue and NE 10th Street. Surveillance footage from the area reportedly showed the driver of a green pickup truck firing a shot into the air before leaving the scene.
A short time later, officers received another report of gunfire near NE 12th Street and NE 10th Avenue. Investigators locate several spent shell casings in the roadway and found evidence of a recent bullet strike on a nearby fence.
During the investigation, a witness reported seeing the same pickup truck being driven recklessly in the 3000 block of NE Third Street. Officers later located the vehicle at a nearby residence and detained the driver, identified as Jesse Swengel.
Police said investigators also discovered evidence related to a battery incident at the residence. A subsequent search of the pickup truck led officers to recover a handgun that appeared to have been recently fired. Following the investigation, Detective Zaino charged Swengel with two counts of firing a weapon from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person, one count of battery and one count of criminal mischief related to property damage.