In Gainesville, Florida, a dramatic and alarming incident unfolded yesterday, leading to the arrest of 30-year-old Tyler Ashton Carter. Accusations against Carter include deliberately crashing his vehicle into one driven by a family member, which at the time, had two young children inside.
The unsettling events reportedly began around 12:51 p.m. on December 26. According to a Gainesville Police Department officer, Carter had allegedly slapped a family member during a heated argument. In an attempt to escape the situation, the victim entered her car with the two eight-year-old children. Carter, however, is accused of pursuing them in his own vehicle and forcefully striking the driver’s side door of the victim’s car.
The victim, fearing for their safety, was unable to properly secure the children in their seatbelts due to the haste of the situation. This resulted in injuries to the children when they were jostled around inside the car. All occupants, including the driver, reported sustaining injuries from the altercation.
As the situation escalated, the victim recounted that Carter continued to follow her vehicle. When she stopped to seek assistance, Carter allegedly exited his vehicle and threatened, “Imma kill y’all.” In response, the victim quickly returned to her car and contacted 911, staying on the line as Carter reportedly pursued and continued to ram her vehicle.
The victim said that as she drove away, Carter followed her, and when she stopped her vehicle in an attempt to ask for help, Carter got out of his car and said, “Imma kill y’all.”
The victim said she got back into her vehicle while calling 911, and she stayed on the phone while Carter allegedly followed her, continuing to ram her vehicle as she drove.
The victim said the children were afraid, and both children reportedly said they believed they were going to die. The children reportedly corroborated the victim’s story.
The officer reported that the victim’s vehicle sustained “substantial damage.”
Because the victim is pregnant, Carter has been charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and felony property damage. He has two felony convictions (one violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2017. Judge Jonathan Ramsey 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.
