Inset: Sierra H. Lindberg (Alachua County Sheriff”s Office). Background: UF Plaza in Gainesville, where the alleged attack took place (Google Maps).
An 18-year-old woman from Florida has been taken into custody following accusations of assaulting two women in a restroom at a college bar, then allegedly striking an employee who was trying to remove her from the premises.
Sierra Halton Lindberg faces three counts of assault, according to official records. These incidents led to the filing of two distinct police reports.
As detailed in the first probable cause affidavit, the violent episodes occurred just after midnight on November 1 at UF Plaza, a popular shopping center near the University of Florida, known for its array of college bars.
The first alleged victim reported to the police that she was in a bathroom stall when Lindberg allegedly entered, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her to the floor. The victim described a “physical altercation” ensuing on the ground. Authorities observed that the victim had hair missing from the right side of her head during the interview.
A second victim recounted witnessing Lindberg pulling the first victim to the floor by her hair. As she attempted to intervene, Lindberg allegedly turned her aggression towards her, grabbing her hair as well.
Lindberg is accused of dragging this second victim to the ground and kneeing her in the stomach. Officers noted that the second victim had a visible bloodstain in her hair at the time of their conversation.
In a post-Miranda interview, Lindberg claimed she was leaving the bathroom when the two victims came in and one of them “grabbed her by the hair.” She said she responded by grabbing the other woman’s hair and then they “both went to the ground.” She stated, “they hit me first,” according to the affidavit.
As Lindberg was being escorted out of the establishment, she allegedly attacked the female employee who was leading her outside. The victim told police she was walking alongside Lindberg and was instructed to take the defendant’s wristband from her right arm. As she reached for the wristband, she claimed Lindberg “struck [her] in the head/face with a closed fist.”
Lindberg then allegedly grabbed the third victim’s hair and pulled her to the ground.
When asked about the altercation, Lindberg allegedly said that when she left the bathroom (where she had the altercation with the first two victims), the third victim grabbed her arm and took her out of the bar.
Lindberg then admitted she “did strike [the victim] with a closed fist,” but said she did not recall where she struck her. Several witnesses told police Lindberg struck the victim in the face.
Speaking of the third victim, Lindberg allegedly said, “She pulled me somewhere I didn’t like, so I hit her.”
Lindberg, who is listed as a “student” in the police report, was released on her own recognizance. It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to appear in court.
