Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Randy Harry Simmons, Jr., 21, was taken into custody last night for allegedly assaulting a woman with a pistol and robbing her in the pool area of Summit House Apartments.

At approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 12, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department was dispatched to Summit House Apartments (2001 SW 16th Street), where they encountered a 66-year-old female victim who was bleeding from multiple injuries. According to the officer, the victim later required 12-15 stitches on her forehead, 12-15 stitches on one ear, and suffered fractures to her left hand/wrist and nose.

The victim reported to the officer that a black male wearing a gray hoodie attacked her, striking her repeatedly with the butt of a pistol. During the assault, the man reportedly demanded money, asking the victim for cash or to transfer funds to him. He allegedly stole her phone and attempted to transfer money to himself unsuccessfully; he is also accused of stealing a diamond ring valued at $1,000 from her hand.

While officers were investigating the incident, a citizen called 911 to report that a black male in a gray hoodie was hiding under a truck in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Officers reportedly found Simmons hiding under a pickup truck, armed with two pistols. He allegedly resisted commands from officers to get on the ground but was eventually detained. He reportedly had blood smeared on one leg and blood on one of the pistols; since he had no fresh injuries, officers believed that the blood came from the victim.

Officers followed a trail of blood from the pool to the victim’s apartment, and “numerous” rounds of ammunition matching one of the pistols were found in the pool.

A witness reportedly told an officer that she heard a commotion and went outside, where she saw Simmons standing over a victim who was on the ground.

Post Miranda, Simmons reportedly said he had been drinking “heavy amounts of alcohol” and confirmed that he had both of his pistols at the time of his arrest. He reportedly said he was angry with his girlfriend and was standing near the pool when the victim started taking video of him. He said the victim didn’t say anything to him but was simply recording video with her cell phone, which upset him. He said he did not remember attacking the victim but agreed that he likely did; he also agreed that the blood on his gun probably belonged to the victim. He reportedly said his hand hurt, which the officer attributed to the number of times he hit the victim with his pistol butt.

Simmons has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer without violence, and using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. He has no criminal convictions but has some unspecified criminal history in another state. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

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.