Staff Report
NEWBERRY, Fla. – Authorities have arrested Brent Thomas Rodgers, 26, from Archer, following an accusation that he assaulted a bartender.
On the evening of October 31, at approximately 11:35 p.m., an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a bar located in the Town of Tioga. The bartender claimed that Rodgers, appearing intoxicated, had engaged in a heated argument before intentionally striking him in the face, causing him to fall. Surveillance footage of the incident was reportedly handed over to the deputy by the establishment.
Witnesses allegedly stated that just as the bartender turned his head, Rodgers “sucker-punched” him.
After the altercation, Rodgers reportedly exited the bar and entered an adjacent venue, where deputies eventually located him. When instructed to stand for handcuffing, Rodgers allegedly resisted, pulling away and refusing to cooperate. The deputy then subdued Rodgers and placed him in handcuffs.
During a subsequent search, authorities reportedly found a hollow-point .22 LR bullet in Rodgers’ possession. As a convicted felon, he is legally barred from having any ammunition.
Post Miranda, Rodgers reportedly declined to answer any questions without a lawyer.
Rodgers has been charged with felony battery with a prior conviction, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and resisting an officer without violence. He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He was arrested in 2024 for fleeing from law enforcement and entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement, but the agreement was revoked after he was arrested in March 2025 for domestic battery. After entering pleas in both cases, he was sentenced to 23 days in jail with credit for 23 days served, followed by 13 months of probation, in June for the fleeing case, and he was sentenced to a year of probation in the domestic battery case in July.
Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $175,000.
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.
