Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dakota Michael George, a 24-year-old resident of Trenton, found himself behind bars yesterday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. This incident occurred after he allegedly brandished a gun from his waistband, in the course of assisting a friend who suspected his roommate of having taken his gaming console.

In connection with the same incident, 25-year-old Jesse Theodore Johnson was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery. The charges stem from an accusation that he punched his roommate during a disagreement over a PS5 gaming console that had gone missing from their shared residence. Judge Kristine Van Vorst decided that Johnson could be released on his own recognizance.

According to reports, George accompanied Johnson to Gainesville Place Apartments (2800 SW 35th Place). It was there that the two confronted the victim, with Johnson allegedly delivering a punch to the victim’s face. The victim recounted that as he stood on the second floor of a building, he witnessed George making his way toward him, hand resting on his waistband. As George neared the staircase, the victim noticed a black handgun being drawn from George’s waistband, prompting him to flee up to the third floor to distance himself from George, unsure of his intentions with the weapon.

A witness reportedly told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that she saw two white men walking up the stairs to the second floor, and one of them had a “buzz” cut and was holding a black handgun (neither of the defendants arrested in this case has a “buzz” cut). The witness said she heard a loud argument with a lot of profanity and went inside to call 911.

George has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He is on probation in Levy County for discharging a firearm in public. Judge Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.