Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – On February 18, Sherrita Marquette Poitier, a 50-year-old resident of Alachua, was taken into custody for allegedly assaulting a juvenile girl with a hammer during a confrontation involving several minors, including her own child.

At approximately 5:52 p.m. on December 14, 2025, the Alachua Police Department was inundated with calls about a brawl involving multiple individuals near the 13300 block of NW 155th Place. According to reports, the altercation involved children, and an adult was accused of striking a young girl in the head with a hammer.

An eyewitness reportedly photographed the suspect’s vehicle, which was identified as belonging to Poitier. Authorities discovered that Poitier’s child was part of the fracas and noted that she resides close to the site of the incident.

Several witnesses provided sworn statements that detailed Poitier’s involvement in the altercation. They alleged that rather than intervening to halt the fight, Poitier actively participated, striking the victim on the head with a hammer. This attack reportedly caused a cut above the victim’s eye, necessitating stitches. Witnesses further claimed that Poitier brandished the hammer threateningly at others, dropped it, retrieved it, and then left the scene in her vehicle.

When reached by phone, Poitier reportedly denied any involvement in the incident, expressing confusion over how her name was implicated. Despite being informed that multiple eyewitnesses identified her as the assailant, she maintained her innocence, questioning how people could identify her without knowing her name. Poitier admitted that her child, who was involved in the clash, had previously been targeted by other children but had not reported these incidents to authorities, asserting that her child was capable of defending themselves.

Poitier has been charged with aggravated child abuse. She has no local criminal history, and the arrest warrant signed by Judge James Colaw ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold her 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.