Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ronnie Lavern Walker, 65, was taken into custody yesterday after purportedly striking a man with a piece of wood at Copeland Park; the victim was taken to the hospital with head injuries.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on July 12, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to Copeland Park (7020 NE 27th Avenue), where the victim stated that he and Walker had a disagreement, after which Walker went into the woods, returned with a piece of wood, and struck him on the head four times.

The victim reportedly sustained multiple lacerations on his head and was transported to the hospital.

Walker reportedly claimed he was acting in self-defense after the victim attacked him and punched him repeatedly in the face, but the deputy noted that Walker had no injuries consistent with his version of events.

Walker has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he was arrested in 2015 for threatening a man with a stick, but the charge was later dropped. Judge Gloria Walker 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.