INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A County man Saturday morning was accused of threatening a woman’s life with a sword.
Robert Johnson, 36, of 555 11th Court, Vero Beach, now faces two felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to authorities.
The incident began when the victim was looking for money she believed Johnson’s brother or his brother’s girlfriend may have stolen, according to the arrest report. While in search for the missing money, the victim knocked on Johnson’s bedroom door to ask to borrow a phone.
Johnson did not answer his door, but later showed up in another room where the victim was still looking for her lost money, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Johnson approached the victim with a sword, held it to her neck and threatened to kill her, the victim told authorities. He then tossed the sword to the side and began strangling the victim with his hands.
The victim reported she could not breathe or speak and began to feel like she was passing out when the defendant’s brother told Johnson to let her go, according to authorities. The victim then fled from the house.
When authorities contacted Johnson at his home, he answered the door holding a small kitchen knife, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He claimed he did not know the victim and thought she was an intruder in his home.
Johnson said he did brandish a sword, but never threatened the victim and never touched her with the weapon, according to the report. He claimed there was a physical altercation where he may have grabbed the victim by the shoulder and neck to remove her from the home.
No other witnesses saw the defendant hold a sword to the victim, but the defendant’s brother reported Johnson did hold the victim in a headlock, according to authorities. Johnson claimed he was holding the kitchen knife because he was going to unlock his bedroom door that was locked unintentionally.
He was released Sunday on $2,500 bond.