George Zimmerman Arrested Again, Charged With Aggravated Assault but Denies Throwing Wine Bottle at Girlfriend

By Benge Nsenduluka, CP Reporter Monday, January 12, 2015

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office says Zimmerman, 31, was arrested on an aggravated assault charge in Lake Mary about 10 p.m. Jan. 9, 2015. Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 of a second-degree murder charge for shooting an unarmed teenager, Trayvon Martin | (Photo: Courtesy/Seminole County Public Affairs/Seminole County Sheriff's Office)

George Zimmerman, the man acquitted in the 2012 shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, was arrested in Lake Mary, Florida, on Friday after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

The troubled 31-year-old was taken into custody by Lake Mary Police and charged with aggravated assault last week after his girlfriend accused him of throwing a wine bottle at her and destroying her cell phone during a domestic dispute. She claimed they argued over artwork which he allegedly wanted returned. He was accused of tossing a wine bottle at the woman as she began to leave his home but it reportedly missed her and hit his garage door.

On Monday, the former neighborhood watch captain denied the allegations and claimed that he was just trying to stop her from entering his home, Fox News reported. The incident reportedly occurred on Jan. 5, however, police did not speak to Zimmerman about the woman's allegations until Jan. 9. It is unclear how long after the incident the woman filed her complaint with police.

He was released on $5,000 bail and according to his attorney, he will plead not guilty to the charges.

The incident follows a series of run-ins that Zimmerman has had with police since he was acquitted of second-degree murder in July 2013.

The Martin shooting sparked racial unrest and divided the nation back in 2012 after Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, used Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law in his defense for killing Martin, who was unarmed and African American.

Despite being cleared of wrong-doing in the Martin case, his brushes with the law have only continued.

In Sept. 2013, Zimmerman was detained and questioned by police after his estranged wife Shellie accused him of threatening and assaulting her father but she declined to press charges.

Two months later his girlfriend accused him of pointing a shotgun at her and destroying her belongings but later dropped charges against him and then had a restraining order, which barred him from being around or contacting her, lifted.

In Sept. last year, Zimmerman was also accused of threatening and following another driver during a road rage incident.