Suspect in cell-phone assault case surrenders
By KEVIN HOFFMANN
The Kansas City Star
A 23-year-old Kansas City man accused of forcing a cell phone down the throat of his ex-girlfriend surrendered Wednesday.
Police said Marlon Brando Gill was accompanied by his attorney when he surrendered about 4 p.m. at the Kansas City Police Department downtown.
Jackson County authorities previously had issued a warrant for Gills arrest, charging him with felony assault for an incident in Blue Springs involving Melinda Abell, 24, of Blue Springs. The Jackson County prosecutors office had asked for a $100,000 bond.
Blue Springs had issued notice of the warrant Tuesday and asked for the publics help in locating Gill.
According to a court document, Abell told police that Gill forced her from a residence near Southwest 19th Street and U.S. 40 early last Friday, began yelling and demanded to see her cell phone while driving along the highway. He pulled into a parking lot, grabbed her and forcibly shoved the phone into her mouth where it became lodged in the throat, the court document alleges
That account differed from Gills. He told police Friday morning that the woman had tried to swallow the phone after he demanded that she give it to him.
Abell was hospitalized after the incident, but she had been released Wednesday.
Court records show that on Tuesday, Abell filed a petition for an order of protection against Gill. A court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Gill was convicted of misdemeanor battery against Abell in October in Johnson County, according to court documents. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail but the sentence was suspended for 12 months.