Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – K’mari Deonta Atkins, 24, was arrested last night after authorities said he hit and choked a woman, stopped her from leaving her home, followed her after she escaped in a friend’s vehicle, and later slammed on the brakes in an alleged attempt to cause a crash while a child was inside the car.
According to the allegations, the incident began at about 9:30 p.m. on August 6, when Atkins became angry with the victim and drove to her residence without permission. He reportedly approached her in an aggressive manner, picked up the child, and placed the child on a couch. Atkins then allegedly pushed the victim and choked her, causing her to fall to the ground; investigators said he also pulled off her wig and yelled at her.
After Atkins eventually stood up, the victim tried to leave the residence, but he allegedly blocked her path and told her she was not going anywhere. The victim reportedly told police she did not feel safe leaving because of Atkins’s behavior and statements.
Atkins also allegedly took the victim’s phone and keys, preventing her from calling for help. When one of the victim’s friends called her phone, Atkins reportedly answered. The friend allegedly heard Atkins arguing with the victim and then contacted another friend to pick her up.
The victim said Atkins continued to block the door, so she escaped through a bedroom window without drawing his attention.
After some time, Atkins reportedly realized the victim was no longer inside the residence and took her vehicle to search for her, allegedly leaving the child unattended on the couch. He found the victim near the front office of her apartment complex, where he allegedly tried to strike her with the vehicle. The victim reportedly stopped walking, argued with Atkins, and then got into the car with him to return to her residence.
When the victim’s friend arrived, the friend yelled for her to leave. The victim then picked up the child and left with the friend.
Atkins allegedly followed them in the victim’s car, driving at a high rate of speed next to the friend’s car; he then allegedly drove in front of the friend’s vehicle and hit the brakes twice in an attempt to cause a crash. Meanwhile, the victim’s friend called 911 and stayed on the phone with dispatch, updating the call-taker with their location.
A Gainesville Police Department officer caught up with both vehicles in the 6000 block of Newberry Road and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Atkins was driving.
Post Miranda, Atkins reportedly said he went to the victim’s residence to pick up the child, and they got into an argument; he said the victim threw a plastic toy at him, which hit him in the lip. The officer noticed some swelling on Atkins’s lip, but when he asked Atkins about it, Atkins reportedly said he had not noticed any swelling or blood.
Atkins reportedly said the victim had taken his car keys and jumped into her friend’s car, so he decided to follow her in her vehicle. He said he was only following her so he could get his keys back.
The officer reported that video showed Atkins swerving in front of the vehicle with the victim, her friend, and the child inside and slamming on the brakes twice in an attempt to force the vehicle to crash.
The officer also noted that Atkins and the victim have a history of domestic violence, referencing an incident report during 2026.
Atkins has been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and domestic battery. He has no local criminal history, but his full criminal history is unavailable because the documents are not posted for offenses involving minors. Senior Judge Bo Bayer ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that 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.
