Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Willie Earl McCarthy Jr., 55, faces charges of simple assault and felony battery after authorities say he threatened to kill one worker and punched another at a University of Florida construction site.
A University of Florida Police Department officer was called to the site near Museum Road and Gale Lemerand Drive at approximately 10:15 a.m. Sept. 29, according to the arrest report.
One of the workers told police that McCarthy had been dismissed the day before after allegedly arriving at work intoxicated and drinking on the job. McCarthy reportedly returned to the construction site around 9:15 a.m. Sept. 29, when a second worker told him to leave.
Investigators say McCarthy responded aggressively, directing insults at the worker and attempting to strike him. He also allegedly threatened to kill the man.
As the second worker walked away, the first worker stepped in and again urged McCarthy to leave rather than escalate the confrontation. McCarthy allegedly punched him in the face, causing a small cut to his nose.
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A judge issued an arrest warrant, and authorities took McCarthy into custody Oct. 13.
Court records identify McCarthy as homeless. He is charged with simple assault and felony battery as a repeat offender. Records show two felony convictions, both involving violence, and four misdemeanor convictions, three of which were also violent. His criminal history in Connecticut dates from 1989 to 2005. McCarthy was on probation after serving six months in jail for striking a woman who was taken to a hospital with injuries. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $52,500.
Arrest reports are the source for articles about arrests. The charges described here come from law enforcement reports and/or court records and represent allegations only. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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