Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 64-year-old Gainesville man was arrested Sunday after authorities say he attacked another man with a box cutter and ordered his dog to bite him, leaving the victim with deep puncture wounds to his leg and a cut on his face.
According to a responding Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy, the incident happened around 4:50 p.m. on August 23 near an apartment building in Linton Oaks, located in the 1200 block of SW 61st Street. The victim told deputies he was walking past the building when Napoleon Filer Jr. called him over to discuss $30 the victim allegedly owed him from a marijuana sale several months earlier.
The victim said he explained that he had recently lost his job and was still trying to come up with the money. Filer allegedly became upset, told the victim he needed to stop “playing” with him, then pulled out a box cutter and began swinging it at him.
As the victim tried to avoid the blade, he told deputies, Filer’s dog ran out through the apartment’s open front door. Filer allegedly ordered the dog to “sic ’em,” prompting the animal to charge. The victim said he pushed the dog away but was eventually bitten on the back of the leg. While he was unable to move, Filer allegedly struck him in the face with the box cutter, causing a small laceration to his cheek.
After the dog let go, the victim said he began looking for his glasses. Filer reportedly warned him, “If you don’t leave, I’ve got something else for you,” before going inside the apartment. Moments later, he allegedly returned with what appeared to be a firearm with a pink slide in his pocket and threatened, “If you come back, I’m going to kill you.” The victim told deputies the gun appeared to be either a 9mm or .380-caliber pistol. He then rode away on his bicycle, leaving his glasses behind in the apartment building’s parking lot.
The deputy later contacted Filer at his apartment and detained him. After being read his Miranda rights, Filer reportedly denied that anything had happened, saying he had only gone outside to cook on the grill.
Deputies canvassed the area and reportedly located the victim’s glasses in the parking lot.
Filer has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has four felony convictions (two violent) and 16 misdemeanor convictions (three violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2009. Judge Meshon Rawls 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.
