GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A troubling incident unfolded yesterday as 22-year-old Andrew Bartholomew was taken into custody, accused of deliberately striking a cyclist with a vehicle. The alleged attack took place in broad daylight, sparking a swift police response and leaving the community in shock.

At approximately 11:20 a.m. on November 13, officers from the Gainesville Police Department rushed to the scene on NE 14th Street, where they discovered the victim on the ground, suffering from a head injury. The victim was initially unable to identify his assailant, and medical personnel expressed concerns about a possible traumatic brain injury, although this had not been confirmed at the time of the report.

Eyewitness accounts played a crucial role in piecing together the events. One witness described seeing a black sedan approach the victim and deliberately strike him, with no attempt to brake. The car reportedly came to a halt just inches from the victim, who was then confronted by the driver—a “shorter” light-skinned black male with short hair. After a heated exchange, the driver returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. This witness managed to note the first three characters of the vehicle’s license plate.

Another witness corroborated this account, mentioning that he observed a light-skinned young black male aggressively grabbing the victim by his shirt before hastily departing in the car. A third witness offered further unsettling details, claiming he saw the vehicle hit the victim multiple times. This witness, who had parked his car behind the sedan, shouted for the driver to cease his actions. However, the driver allegedly reversed into the witness’s car before making his escape. Undeterred, this witness dialed 911 and administered aid to the injured cyclist.

The incident has prompted an investigation as authorities work to piece together the motive and ensure justice is served. Meanwhile, the local community remains on edge as they await further developments in this alarming case.

A third witness said he saw the car hit the victim four times, and he parked behind the car and yelled at the driver to stop. He said the driver got back in his car, put his car in reverse, and hit the witness’s car before driving away. That witness called 911 and rendered aid to the victim.

A fourth witness said the suspect might be the victim’s girlfriend’s brother because the two men had had issues in the past.

The officer’s investigation found that the victim had met with his girlfriend near her residence to give her some dog food, and as soon as the victim left, Bartholomew followed him in his car.

While the officer was speaking with witnesses, Bartholomew reportedly called and said he wanted to turn himself in because he had run over the victim with his car. The officer met Bartholomew, arrested him, and noted that the first three characters of his car’s tag matched the information provided by the first witness.

Post Miranda, Bartholomew reportedly admitted to purposely hitting the victim with his car and said that after he hit him, he got out, grabbed the victim by the shirt, and started yelling at him. When the officer asked why Bartholomew had run over the victim, Bartholomew reportedly said the victim had threatened him “before,” and he was scared. The officer asked whether the victim had threatened him that day, and Bartholomew said he hadn’t, but he reportedly added, “I could say he was still mad about the previous incident.”

The officer reportedly said that since the victim was on a bicycle and Bartholomew was in a car, Bartholomew could have easily avoided the victim by not following him, and Bartholomew reportedly said that was correct and admitted that he had no reason to follow the victim.

Bartholomew has been charged with aggravated battery. He has a juvenile conviction from 2021 but no adult criminal history. 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; 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.