Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brent M. Nyman, 47, was taken into custody on Wednesday for allegedly threatening a woman with a baseball bat as she attempted to gather her belongings after moving out of his apartment.

At approximately 12:10 p.m. on June 18, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at the 200 block of NE 42nd Place. The victim reported that she had been living with Nyman in an apartment he had “rented” to her; she said Nyman informed her she had to vacate because he does not permit “tenants” to stay longer than 13 days.

The victim stated that she communicated with Nyman via text to notify him that she was coming to retrieve her belongings, and he instructed her that they were in the apartment’s backyard. She and a female friend went behind the building to collect her possessions, and she said Nyman unexpectedly arrived with a baseball bat, threatening to “beat them” with it. The victim claimed she feared for her life and withdrew to call 911.

The officer said Nyman told him he picked up the bat because the victim is African American and he was afraid he would be “jumped” by her friend; Nyman also reportedly said several times that he was upset with the victim for failing to vacate the property on his time frame.

The officer noted that Nyman is a large man and both women are small (“approximately 5’2″ and 120 pounds”), so Nyman “would have no need to fear physical attack due to this size difference.”

A witness said she saw Nyman from across the street and that he was “being very aggressive” and calling the victim a racial epithet.

Post Miranda, Nyman reportedly said the bat was inside the apartment and gave permission for an officer to get it; the victim reportedly identified the bat as the same one Nyman had held while allegedly threatening her. Nyman reportedly said again that he picked up the bat because the victim is African American and he feared for his safety.

Nyman has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, although the arresting officer noted he “committed a felony while evidencing prejudice based on the race of [the victim],” a separate violation of Florida statutes.

Nyman has no criminal convictions but was arrested in January 2024 for a domestic incident in which he allegedly pulled a knife; the charge was later dropped. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $150,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.