Zimmerman charged with aggravated assault
George Zimmerman, acquitted four months ago in the killing of Trayvon Martin, was arrested on Monday after his girlfriend called 911 during a domestic dispute, telling police he broke a table in her home and pointed a long-barreled shotgun at her.
Zimmerman, 30, was booked into Seminole County Jail, where he is being held without bail. He was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon — a felony — and battery and criminal mischief.
According to Lt. Dennis Lemma, police responded to the domestic disturbance call at Samantha Scheibe's home in Apopka, Fla., at 12:30 p.m. When deputies arrived, Scheibe indicated Zimmerman had forced her out of her home and barricaded the door with furniture.
Officers were able to open the door and "push away the furniture," finding Zimmerman inside. No one was hurt and no one else was at the home when deputies arrived, Lemma said.
Zimmerman was not armed and offered no resistance, Lemma said, but police found two guns inside the home and enough evidence for probable cause and took Zimmerman into custody. He will make his initial court appearance before a judge on Tuesday.
Until he does, Lemma said, Zimmerman will be held in a single cell and "checked on hourly."
Zimmerman, who in July was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2012 shooting death of Martin, has had several brushes with the law since his acquittal.
In September, Zimmerman was handcuffed by police in Lake Mary, Fla., after his estranged wife and her father accused him of threatening them with a gun. He was questioned and released by police at the scene, and no charges were filed.
The same month, Zimmerman was stopped for speeding in Lake Mary and received a $256 ticket.
In July, Zimmerman was pulled over for speeding in Forney, Texas. He told the police officer he had a concealed weapon permit and a gun in his glove compartment. The officer gave Zimmerman a verbal warning.
In August, he was pulled over in Brevard County, Fla., for having an improper tag displayed on his truck. The police officer also informed Zimmerman that his vehicle's excessive tint needed to be corrected. Zimmerman told the officer that he had installed the tint because he was receiving death threats.
Zimmerman said he shot Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, in self-defense, sparking a national debate over "stand your ground" laws.
