Palmetto man charged with attacking, imprisoning woman after being refused sex

Palmetto man charged with imprisoning woman

MANATEE -- A Palmetto man was charged with hitting his roommate and not allowing her to leave after she refused to have sex, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Charles B. McNeal, 55, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the 140 block of 12th Street West in Palmetto.

At 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, deputies said McNeal returned to the converted storage shed he shared with the victim and asked for sex. The two have not been in a romantic relationship.

The victim reportedly told McNeal no to repeated requests.

Deputies said McNeal became mad and began punching the victim in her face. The victim blocked some McNeal punches with her arms.

The victim reportedly tried to leave three times and McNeal threw her on the bed each time, holding a utility knife and wouldn't allow her to leave.

Deputies said McNeal slept on the floor in front of the only door to the shed, knife in hand, to keep the victim from leaving.

The victim reportedly had swelling in her right eye, swelling and a break in skin over the left eye, scratches on her chest and a bruise and swelling to her right forearm.

McNeal was charged with battery and false imprisonment, according to the sheriff's office website. He was held on bonds totaling $25,000.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Palmetto man charged with attacking, imprisoning woman after being refused sex ."