Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Charles Reno III, 34, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at two teens on I-75.
Just after noon on September 7, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to southbound I-75, near mile marker 388, about two miles from the NW 39th Avenue exit. A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old from High Springs reported that a man had aimed a handgun at them while driving alongside their vehicle.
The deputy’s investigation determined that both cars were traveling in the left southbound lane when the driver of the victims’ car suddenly braked, forcing Reno to do the same to avoid a collision. Subsequently, Reno moved to the center lane and reportedly pointed a handgun at the victims as he pulled alongside their car. Alarmed, the victims’ driver sped away, fearing that Reno might fire the weapon.
After being read his Miranda rights, Reno initially denied having a gun in his vehicle. He later admitted there was a shotgun but no handgun, and finally conceded there was a handgun, though he insisted it was inaccessible while driving. Reno consented to a vehicle search, which uncovered a handgun magnetically secured beneath the steering wheel. When questioned on how the victims could have seen the weapon, Reno explained that he had picked it up and demonstrated by raising his arm and moving it leftward, matching the victims’ account.
Reno explained he was angered because the victims’ car braked suddenly and the passenger appeared to be hanging out of the window. He claimed their actions forced him to decelerate from 75-80 mph to 55-60 mph, potentially causing an accident. He acknowledged that the victims never threatened him.
Reno faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. With no prior criminal record, Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail, pending a State Attorney’s office motion to keep him detained until trial. If the motion is denied, bail will be established at that hearing.
Arrest articles rely on law enforcement agency reports. The charges stem from arrest records and legal documents and are merely accusations. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
