Man Arrested for Deliberately Hitting Man with A Car

NEWBERRY ‒ Ernesto Angel Morales Alejo, 19, was arrested Friday night, Nov. 25, and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly intentionally hitting a man with his car.

At about 8 p.m. Friday night, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call from an address in Newberry about an armed disturbance. The deputies interviewed the victim and witnesses and determined that following a brief physical fight, Morales Alejo had gotten into his car and started revving the engine in the front yard of the victim’s home. He then allegedly began driving across the yard, leaving tire tracks several inches deep that went across the yard and all the way to the front door.

The victim, who was trauma-alerted to UF Health Shands, reportedly told deputies that Morales Alejo intentionally drove toward him and hit him with the front of his car. Morales Alejo’s vehicle reportedly had a broken headlight on one side and a large dent in the fender. A witness also reportedly told a deputy that Morales Alejo had intentionally hit the victim with his car at high speed.

Another witness told a deputy that he had seen Morales Alejo “driving crazy” in the front yard and then heard yelling and screaming as if someone were in pain.

Morales Alejo, who gave a Gainesville address, was later arrested at Hitchcock’s Grocery in Newberry and has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has no local criminal history and has been charged with a second-degree felony.

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