A man identified as Hamlet Jose Amarante, aged 31, was taken into custody in the early hours of this morning in Gainesville, Florida. He faces allegations of brandishing a firearm at a group of individuals in the downtown area and threatening to shoot one of them.
The incident unfolded around 1:55 a.m. on December 25, when officers from the Gainesville Police Department were called to 413 S. Main Street. According to the victim, Amarante had engaged in a heated dispute with the victim’s friend. During this confrontation, Amarante allegedly drew a Glock 43, aimed it at the victim, and issued a threatening remark, reportedly saying, “I’ll shoot you [expletive].”
The victim recounted that Amarante had initially been seated across the street, antagonizing his friend. The situation escalated when Amarante crossed over, engaging in a verbal altercation with both the victim and his friend before allegedly producing the firearm.
When the first officer arrived at the scene, a group of bystanders on the sidewalk at 27 SE 4th Avenue discreetly indicated the direction in which Amarante had fled, whispering, “He has a gun.” The officer observed Amarante reaching for the top of a chain-link fence, appearing to prepare for an escape. The officer ordered him to halt, and Amarante was subsequently handcuffed. It was then that he revealed his gun was tucked in his waistband, which the officer retrieved.
Following his arrest, Amarante reportedly stated, after being read his Miranda rights, that he had been consuming alcohol downtown and decided to take a walk to clear his head before driving. He mentioned an unplanned argument with a group of homeless individuals. However, he struggled to clarify why the victim’s friend had cautioned him with the words, “You don’t want to do this.”
Post Miranda, Amarante reportedly said he had been drinking downtown and went for a walk to sober up before driving. He said he got into a random argument with a group of homeless people and remembered that the victim’s friend had said, “You don’t want to do this.” However, the officer reported that Amarante could not explain why the man would say that.
Amarante said he sat down across the street from the group, rolled a marijuana joint, and walked over to the group to ask for a lighter. The officer noted that a search incident to arrest produced a lighter, but Amarante said he had forgotten he had it.
Amarante said an argument started, and he found himself surrounded, but he never displayed his gun or put his hand on it.
The officer reported that the callers who reported the incident stated that a firearm was visible during the argument. When the officer asked Amarante about that, Amarante reportedly admitted to putting his hand on his gun under his hoodie, but he still said he never pulled it from the waistband holster.
A search of Amarante’s bag incident to arrest reportedly produced about 9 grams of marijuana.
Amarante, whose listed address is in Pembroke Pines, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. His criminal history is unavailable, and Judge Julie Johnson 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.
