Florida woman arrested after pushing elderly woman to the ground for ignoring boil water notice, deputies say

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MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida woman has found herself behind bars after allegedly pushing an elderly woman to the ground amid a heated argument about a boil water notice, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Jennifer Meredith was arrested and charged with domestic battery on person 65 years or older after the incident that unfolded in Marion County on Monday, according to an arrest affidavit.

A witness told deputies they saw an “elderly lady was pushed to the ground by another female,” the affidavit said.

When deputies arrived to the scene, they made contact with Meredith, who said her and the elderly woman were in an argument “over the water because they are on a boil notice and the victim continues to drink the water without boiling it,” the affidavit said.

According to Marion County Utilities, a precautionary boil water notice was issued Friday and was listed Monday for parts of Marion County.

The victim told deputies that Meredith became upset with her because she was drinking the water without boiling it first, the report said. She also reportedly grabbed her water cup and threw it across the yard so she couldn’t drink it. When she went to pick the cup off the ground, Meredith allegedly came over to her and started to hit her on the shoulder before pushing her to the ground.

Deputies said they saw a cut on the woman’s hand and bruising where she was punched on her shoulder, consistent with her side of the story, the affidavit said.

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Meredith told deputies she did not push the woman to the ground, nor punch her in the shoulder.

She was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where she remains held on $2,000 bond, according to arrest records.