Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A dispute over a parking spot turned destructive when 23-year-old Matthew Oneil Spence was taken into custody early today, accused of shattering the front and rear windshields of a car with a baseball bat.

The events unfolded on March 29 at Palm Bay Apartments, located at 954 SW 16th Avenue, when officers from the Gainesville Police Department were called to the scene. The victim recounted that an argument over parking escalated into a physical altercation involving Spence’s girlfriend. Following this clash, Spence’s girlfriend retreated to her apartment, while Spence allegedly took up a bat and inflicted approximately $1,400 worth of damage to the victim’s vehicle by smashing its windows.

According to the victim, she witnessed Spence vandalizing her car and informed him that she was contacting the authorities. In response, it is reported that Spence attempted to conceal the bat inside a nearby vehicle before fleeing the scene in a different car. Law enforcement apprehended Spence in a neighboring area shortly thereafter.

After being read his Miranda rights, Spence is said to have admitted to the act of breaking the car windows.

Spence now faces charges of felony property damage and tampering with evidence. His criminal history includes a juvenile conviction from 2019, six adult felony convictions of a nonviolent nature, and a previous state prison sentence from which he was released in January 2025.

Spence is also facing a sworn complaint for allegedly elbowing a Gainesville Fire Rescue employee in the face, chipping two of his teeth, in February.

Judge Adam Lee set bail at $87,500.

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.