Local

NEWBERRY ‒ A Newberry man was arrested Sunday afternoon after deputies said he pointed a handgun at two teenagers during a road rage incident on Interstate 75.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call at the 388 mile marker of southbound I-75, about two miles south of the Northwest 39^th Avenue exit, shortly after noon on Sept. 7, 2025. A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old from High Springs told investigators that the driver of another vehicle brandished a firearm while traveling alongside them.

The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as 34-year-old Robert Charles Reno III of Newberry. Investigators determined that the incident began when the victims’ car, traveling in the left lane, slowed suddenly, forcing Reno to brake to avoid a collision. Reno then changed into the center lane, pulled alongside the victims’ vehicle, and allegedly pointed a handgun at them. Fearing they would be shot, the teens sped away.

Deputies located Reno and began questioning him. Initially, he denied having a firearm in his vehicle. He later admitted there was a shotgun but insisted there was no handgun. Eventually, he acknowledged a handgun was inside the car but claimed it was buried and inaccessible while driving.

Reno gave deputies consent to search the vehicle. The search uncovered a handgun magnetically mounted under the steering wheel. When pressed on how the teenagers could have seen the weapon, Reno reportedly demonstrated lifting the firearm with his arm raised toward the left side of the car — a motion consistent with the victims’ statements.

Reno told investigators he was angry because the teens’ sudden braking forced him to reduce his speed from approximately 75–80 mph to about 55–60 mph. He also complained that one of the passengers was leaning out of the car window. Reno admitted the victims never threatened him.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Court records show Reno has no prior criminal history.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones has ordered Reno held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office, which is seeking to keep him in custody until trial. If the motion is denied, the court will set bail at that time.

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WALDO ‒ Fire crews and state forestry officials worked together Saturday evening to contain a fast-moving brush fire near the Louise Hunt Club north of Waldo, while also rescuing a pair of teenagers whose vehicle became disabled in the area of the blaze.

According to Alachua County Fire Rescue, units were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 to County Road 1475 after reports of smoke. Responders arrived to find a light haze, and further investigation revealed a brush fire estimated at 1 to 2 acres that was spreading rapidly.

The Florida Forest Service responded to the scene with two bulldozers to help access the fire. As crews attempted to reach the flames, the Combined Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that teenagers were stranded in a vehicle inside the fire zone.

The teens’ parents soon arrived at the command post and provided GPS coordinates. A search and rescue operation was launched using a brush truck equipped with a search and rescue technician. Crews successfully located the teenagers and escorted them away from danger.

Meanwhile, forestry bulldozers and fire units continued working to suppress the blaze. The fire was eventually brought under control and measured about 5.5 acres, authorities said.

The Louise Hunting Club, founded in 1972, is a dog running hunting club located in the area where the fire broke out.

The incident underscores the risks faced during wildfire season in North Central Florida, where dry brush and windy conditions can quickly escalate small fires into larger hazards. Officials said the coordinated response between county fire rescue and state forestry crews was instrumental in both extinguishing the blaze and ensuring the safety of those trapped nearby.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ A 44-year-old Hawthorne man is facing felony charges after deputies say he stabbed a family member during a domestic altercation late Friday night.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called to a home on the 22500 block of Southeast 75^th Avenue at approximately 9:34 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2025. When law enforcement arrived, they encountered Glenn Anton Gillins holding a kitchen knife in his left hand. Deputies also observed blood on the right side of his face, according to the incident report.

Investigators said the confrontation began as a verbal dispute before escalating into violence. The victim told deputies that Gillins armed himself with both a metallic broomstick and a kitchen knife during the argument. Gillins allegedly swung the broomstick at the victim but missed.

The victim said he attempted to disarm Gillins by grabbing the broomstick, at which point Gillins allegedly stabbed him in the right side of his torso near his ribs. A witness reportedly confirmed the victim’s account, reinforcing the details provided to deputies.

Emergency responders treated the victim at the scene for a stab wound. Officials did not immediately release additional information on the victim’s condition, but the injury was not described as life-threatening.

After being read his Miranda rights, Gillins reportedly declined to provide a statement to deputies. He was taken into custody without further incident and charged with domestic aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a serious felony offense under Florida law.

Court records show that Gillins was previously convicted of a traffic-related misdemeanor. Two domestic battery charges filed against him in 2010 and 2013 were later dropped, as was a 2022 charge of cocaine possession.

Gillins made his first appearance before Judge Phillip Pena, who ordered him held without bail while the State Attorney’s Office files a motion to detain him until trial. If the motion is denied, the court will set bail at a subsequent hearing.

Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony in Florida, carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation and a $10,000 fine.

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ALACHUA COUNTY – A man and woman with prior felony records were arrested in Alachua County on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, after deputies located a stolen vehicle out of Lake County east of Newnan’s Lake.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO), the Lake County Sheriff’s Office alerted local deputies about a stolen red Ford Bronco that was pinging in the area. An ASO deputy responded and located the vehicle outside a residence. The homeowner told deputies that a friend, identified as 25-year-old Dominic J. DeGrego, had arrived earlier in the day with 24-year-old Hannah Elizabeth Hofmann.

Deputies detained both individuals, and after being read their rights, the two gave conflicting accounts. DeGrego reportedly denied knowing why the vehicle was there, claiming a friend had dropped it off. Hofmann, however, admitted that she and DeGrego had stolen the Bronco while under the influence of methamphetamine. She told deputies she had driven him to the vehicle, followed in another car until it overheated, then switched into the Bronco and traveled with him to the home where deputies later recovered it.

Both were arrested and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle on behalf of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. On the way to jail, DeGrego allegedly acknowledged to deputies that he had made a mistake and regretted lying about the Bronco.

Court records show DeGrego has an extensive criminal history, including three state prison terms out of Lake, Volusia and Orange counties, with his most recent release in May 2025. Hofmann also has a history of car theft, having served one state prison sentence out of Marion County for six charges across three cases, including three counts of grand theft of a vehicle. She was released in February 2025.

Following Saturday’s arrests, Judge Sheree Lancaster set bail at $75,000 for DeGrego and $50,000 for Hofmann. Both remain in custody pending further proceedings.

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MICANOPY ‒ Two Gainesville men were arrested late Saturday night, Oct. 4, 2025, after a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer observed a pickup truck allegedly shining a bright light into wooded areas along County Road 325 in what authorities described as a potential act of night hunting.

The officer, who was patrolling in the Micanopy and Cross Creek area, reported spotting the truck around 10:47 p.m. using a high-powered white light “in a manner that would be capable of disclosing the presence of deer.” The vehicle, which was towing a trailer without functioning rear running lights, was subsequently stopped for a traffic violation.

During the stop, the driver was identified as David Brotherton Cunningham, 39, and the passenger as Nicholas Dean Kirkland, 44, both of Gainesville. When questioned, the men reportedly told the officer there were firearms inside the vehicle. Both were detained after being patted down for safety.

Following the arrival of an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy for backup, the officer conducted a search of the truck. Authorities said the search uncovered an AR-15 pistol, two AR-15-style rifles, and three 9mm handguns, along with loaded magazines, additional ammunition, and a spotlight believed to have been used in the night-hunting activity. Officers also reported finding a bag containing a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to the incident report, Kirkland admitted to operating the spotlight and allegedly “bragged” about how bright it was. After being advised of his Miranda rights, he reportedly confirmed he had used the light and knew firearms were in the vehicle. A search of Kirkland’s person allegedly turned up a small baggie of cocaine.

While Cunningham was being booked into the Alachua County Jail, detention staff reportedly found cocaine concealed in his wallet, resulting in an additional charge for introducing contraband into a detention facility.

Cunningham faces multiple charges, including night hunting, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and introducing contraband into a detention facility. Court records show that he has five prior misdemeanor convictions, one of which was classified as violent. Judge Craig DeThomasis set his bail at $4,000.

Kirkland was charged with night hunting and possession of a controlled substance. He has six prior misdemeanor convictions, including two violent offenses. Judge DeThomasis released him on his own recognizance pending further court proceedings.

FWC officials routinely conduct nighttime patrols during hunting season to deter illegal activities such as spotlighting wildlife, a practice commonly referred to as “shining.” The use of artificial lights to locate or take game animals at night is prohibited under Florida law and is considered a serious wildlife violation.

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