Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 32-year-old man was arrested Monday night after police say he jumped the counter at the Midtown McDonald’s and threatened to beat an employee.
Gainesville Police Department officers were called to the McDonald’s at 1206 W. University Avenue at about 9:37 p.m. on July 14. According to the report, an employee told dispatchers that Lorenze Ford III was creating a disturbance inside the restaurant and yelling at people.
The employee told officers that Ford had been asked several times to leave the business, but he allegedly grew more aggressive instead. Police said Ford jumped over the counter and threatened to beat up the employee. The employee reported that he moved Ford out of the employee-only area, but Ford still would not leave. He also told police this was not the first time Ford had caused problems at the store and said he wanted Ford formally trespassed from the property.
Officers later located Ford across the street from the McDonald’s. According to the arrest report, Ford repeatedly said he had been pushed but would not answer officers’ questions about what happened inside the restaurant. Police said that, while an officer was present, Ford stated he was going to return to the store and beat up the employee.
Ford was charged with burglary of an occupied structure and simple assault. Court records show he has two prior misdemeanor convictions, both non-violent. He was most recently arrested in December 2025 at GRACE Marketplace on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest without violence, and two counts of battery on law enforcement officers. After the battery charges were dropped, he served three months in the Alachua County Jail. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bond at $70,000 in the new case 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.
