Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santoria Nichelle Smith, 21, is facing multiple charges stemming from a July confrontation during which she allegedly kicked, bit and spat on Gainesville Police Department officers.
According to police, officers arrived at the Gardenia Gardens Apartments parking lot, 1721 NE 8th Avenue, at approximately 10:20 p.m. on July 22 after reports that Smith was screaming at people and drawing a crowd. Officers said she was wearing boxing gloves, covered in baby oil and standing with her hands raised in what appeared to be a fighting stance.
When officers tried to detain Smith on a disorderly conduct allegation, she reportedly resisted being handcuffed. Police said she kneed one officer in the groin and kicked another in the legs and torso. She also allegedly tore the second officer’s lapel microphone from his uniform, leaving him unable to use his radio.
After officers took Smith into custody, she allegedly spat into the eyes and mouths of two officers. Police said she bit through two spitting masks, rendering both unusable.
Smith allegedly continued the behavior while being transported to an emergency room for medical clearance, spitting on the officer driving her.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Shannon Poteet Murder Update- Was Lonnie Poteet Arrested? Where Is She Now?
Smith is charged with three counts of aggravated battery on law enforcement officers, battery on a law enforcement officer, depriving an officer of communications, resisting an officer with violence and disturbing the peace. Judge Joy Danne set her bail at $100,000.
Smith has no criminal convictions. However, she was arrested in August 2023 after allegedly kicking a female police officer in the stomach and saying she hoped the officer was pregnant and that the baby died. In November 2023, she was arrested again after allegedly shoving a police officer who had been called to escort her from a Santa Fe College classroom. Both cases are no longer listed on the court’s website.
Smith was also arrested in October 2025 for allegedly taking $990 worth of merchandise from Walmart. She entered a pretrial diversion agreement, but the agreement was revoked following her arrest this week. A sworn complaint filed in December 2025 accused her of damaging screens at a Gardenia Gardens apartment; that case was later dropped.
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.
