Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tommy James Rieders, 48, faced arrest yesterday for DUI, hit and run, and battery on an officer; later, he received a charge for property damage for allegedly breaking a light at the local jail.
On August 13, around 12:19 p.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a reported car accident. A witness at the scene said she was halted at a red light at the intersection of NW 3rd Avenue and NW 13th Street when a man driving southbound turned into her vehicle, colliding with the driver’s side and injuring her back seat passenger. According to her, the driver got out, handed over a business card, and repeatedly said, “I gotta go.” Upon departing, he dropped a white pill, which the officer confirmed induces drowsiness and warns against driving. The witness also captured a video of the driver’s tag as he left the scene.
The officer contacted Rieders, noting his slow and slurred speech. Rieders acknowledged hearing about the accident but claimed no recollection of it.
Upon arriving at Rieders’s residence, the officer noted damage to the front gate consistent with vehicle impact and found a bumper nearby; a vehicle with front end damage was parked in the driveway. Observing Rieders swaying and with slurred speech, the officer suspected intoxication.
Rieders reportedly admitted to taking various medications, and an EMT commented that these would likely cause him to be disoriented and should preclude him from driving.
Post Miranda, Rieders reportedly said he had not had any alcoholic beverages.
The officer reported that Rieders performed poorly on field sobriety exercises and refused to submit to a breath test.
While another officer attempted to conduct a breathalyzer test, Rieders allegedly became “hostile and aggressive,” purportedly kicking the arresting officer several times. Rieders expressed that he believed he should be allowed to injure the officer because he felt hurt by the officer.
At about 1:17 a.m., Rieders allegedly tried to pull a camera off the wall of his cell, and when he realized it would not move, he pulled down a ceiling light, leaving the wires exposed and requiring staff to shut down the cell until it could be repaired. The incident was reportedly captured on surveillance footage.
Rieders has been charged with leaving a crash involving injury, leaving a crash involving property damage, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence, and property damage under $200. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $120,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.
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.
