Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Friday, authorities arrested 30-year-old Eric Jermaine Turner following the issuance of a warrant accusing him of domestic battery, robbery, and threatening to kill a woman if the battery on his ankle monitor died before she could return him to the charger.

The incident came to light when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy spoke with the victim on March 30. She explained that Turner had been staying at her apartment for approximately two months. On the day in question, a disagreement between them escalated, leading to Turner allegedly slapping and choking her. As she screamed for help, he reportedly stifled her cries by covering her face with a blanket.

Once Turner calmed down, he requested a ride to a location in the Phoenix area. Upon his exit from the vehicle, the victim decided to drive away. Fearful of returning to her apartment, she spent about two hours driving aimlessly. During this time, Turner began sending her angry text messages, frustrated that his ankle monitor was losing power and the charger was still in her apartment. The texts, described as “vulgar,” prompted her to block his number. However, she soon received messages from another number, which she recognized as his due to the consistent vulgar tone and repeated demands for the charger. One message ominously warned that if his monitor died, so would she.

Upon returning home, the victim found Turner waiting outside her apartment. As she attempted to flee, he allegedly pursued her, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground. In the scuffle, she dropped her wallet, enabling Turner to steal her house key. He then entered her apartment, changed clothes, and took the ankle monitor charger.

The deputy verified the threatening text messages, which substantiated her claims of threats on her life.

A sworn complaint was filed, charging Turner with making a written threat to kill, robbery (for taking the house key), domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery. A warrant for Turner’s arrest was issued on April 2, and he was arrested on April 3.

Turner has four felony convictions (one violent) and nine misdemeanor convictions (two violent), and he is on probation for burglary of an occupied structure. He has served one state prison sentence for aggravated stalking after an injunction for protection and was released in July 2025. Judge Robert Groeb set bail at $100,000 in the warrant, and Judge William Davis confirmed that bail at Turner’s first appearance hearing.

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.