Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have detained 26-year-old Charles C. Bryant Jr., following accusations of pursuing a family member while wielding a metal BB gun.
Around 8:05 p.m. on June 7, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at The Polos to find Bryant outside. Bryant immediately denied chasing the victim with the BB gun, even though the officer had yet to pose any questions.
After being read his Miranda rights, Bryant recounted that an argument with the victim turned physical. He claimed the victim struck him, causing him to fall. Initially, Bryant stated no one witnessed the altercation but later amended his account, mentioning another family member had intervened. He admitted to picking up the metal BB gun to intimidate the victim, aware of its potential to inflict serious harm.
During the incident, Bryant reportedly sustained a bleeding cyst caused by the scuffle.
Following his Miranda warning, the victim described a verbal dispute escalating into a physical confrontation. He acknowledged releasing the victim as the witness intervened. After their separation, the victim alleged Bryant seized the BB gun and threatened to use it. Fearing for his safety due to the gun’s potential harm, he fled the apartment with Bryant in pursuit, prompting him to call 911.
The victim reportedly had visible scratch marks from the physical fight.
The witness reportedly said the two men had argued, the argument became physical, and she pulled the victim off of Bryant. She said Bryant grabbed the metal BB gun and chased the victim. She confirmed that the blood on Bryant’s face came from a cyst that was scratched during the physical fight.
The officer reported that the metal BB gun was the size of an AR15 or a baseball bat.
Bryant has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (violent); he is on probation for fleeing with lights and sirens active in a December 2023 incident. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000 and ordered him to find an alternate residence.
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.
