NEWBERRY – A 44-year-old Newberry man was arrested Sept. 2 following a nine-hour standoff with Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies at a home in CountryWay Town Square, where authorities said he barricaded himself after allegedly attacking and threatening a 73-year-old woman.
Earnest Lee Coleman Jr. was arrested at about 9:20 a.m. after deputies found him hiding in the attic of the residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office and an arrest report.
The incident began at about 8:45 p.m. Sept. 1, when deputies responded to a report of a battery at a residence in the Jonesville area.
The 73-year-old victim told deputies that she and Coleman had gotten into an argument Aug. 31 that escalated into a physical attack. According to the arrest report, Coleman allegedly threatened her with a firearm, took her phone and prevented her from leaving the residence.
The woman told investigators the incident continued into the following day and that Coleman appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. She eventually escaped and went to a nearby family member’s home, where she contacted law enforcement.
Deputies reported seeing bruising on the woman that was consistent with her account.
Investigators identified a residence in the 24600 block of Southwest 21st Circle in CountryWay Town Square where Coleman was believed to be located. Deputies established a perimeter and repeatedly used a public address system to order him to come outside, but he did not respond.
Authorities said they confirmed Coleman was inside and believed he was armed and had access to multiple firearms.
The Sheriff’s Office activated its SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, K-9 teams and Criminal Investigations Division. The Alachua County Fire Rescue Drone Team also responded, and nearby residents were evacuated as authorities worked to resolve the situation.
Over the next nine hours, deputies attempted to get Coleman to surrender. Authorities deployed a Bomb Squad robot into the residence, while the SWAT Team used distraction devices and chemical agents.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Florida Highway Patrol Drone Team also assisted during the operation.
While the standoff continued, investigators obtained arrest and search warrants for Coleman.
According to the arrest report, Coleman was eventually found “strategically hiding inside of the attic of the home in a fortified position.”
He was taken into custody at about 9:20 a.m. Sept. 2 without further incident.
Coleman was charged with battery on a person 65 or older, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Court records cited in the arrest information indicate Coleman has one prior felony conviction and one misdemeanor conviction, including a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also on pretrial release in Union County on charges of trespassing and resisting an officer without violence.
Judge Joy Danne ordered Coleman held without bail pending a hearing on a motion by the State Attorney’s Office seeking to have him detained without bail until trial. If that motion is denied, bail will be determined at the hearing.
The charges are accusations, and Coleman is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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