Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Rohan Palmer, 38, was detained yesterday after reportedly threatening a woman with a gun and seizing her phone to stop her from reaching 911.

Around 5:50 p.m. on July 31, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at Reflections Apartments (205 SW 75th Street), where the victim claimed Palmer assaulted her before brandishing a gun; she stated he pinned her down and aimed the gun at the back of her head, causing her to fear for her life.

The victim was on a call at the moment, and the person on the other end allegedly overheard her saying Palmer was holding a gun to her head. Palmer purportedly confiscated the phone and terminated the call, thereby blocking her from contacting 911.

The victim detailed the gun, and a weapon matching her description was reportedly discovered on Palmer when he was apprehended in Alachua around 6:42 p.m.

Palmer is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery, and obstructing justice. He has two prior misdemeanor convictions (one involving violence); in September 2024, he was arrested for domestic battery against another victim, but this case is not present in the Alachua County court archives. Judge George Wright has ordered him to be held without bail until a hearing regarding a petition from the State Attorney’s office to keep him in custody until his trial; should the judge reject the request, bail will be determined at that hearing.

Reports of arrests are sourced from law enforcement agencies. The charges are derived from the arrest report and/or court documents and are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.