Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lorenzo A. Tolbert, 65, was taken into custody early this morning after police say he cut a man at Campus Walk Apartments during a dispute over money Tolbert claimed he was owed.
Gainesville Police Department officers responded at about 12:48 a.m. on June 22 to Campus Walk Apartments, 914 SW 8th Avenue. The victim told officers he had been sitting outside when Tolbert approached him, began yelling that he was going to pay the money he owed, and then allegedly punched him twice.
According to the victim, Tolbert then produced a folding knife with the blade open. The victim said he tried to leave because he feared Tolbert would cut him, but Tolbert stood over him and forcefully pushed him down onto the stairs. He reported trying to stand up twice, only to be shoved back down both times while Tolbert held the knife in his other hand.
The victim said that immediately after the second time he was pushed down, Tolbert cut him with the knife. He told police he was then able to get past Tolbert, lock himself inside his apartment, and call 911.
An officer noted in the report that the victim’s shirt had been cut and that he had a laceration on his torso.
When police made contact with Tolbert, he reportedly made an unsolicited statement that the victim owed him money. After being read his Miranda rights, he declined to make any further statements.
Tolbert is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery with a prior battery conviction, and false imprisonment. He has one felony conviction, which was violent, and six misdemeanor convictions, including two violent offenses, as well as a history of dropped battery cases. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $200,000 and ordered that, if released, Tolbert must wear a GPS monitor and follow a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
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.
