Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sierra Janae Reynolds, 25, was taken into custody early this morning after police said she stabbed a woman with a broken glass bottle at Campus Walk Apartments.
Gainesville Police Department officers were called to Campus Walk Apartments, located at 914 SW 8th Avenue, at about 10:50 p.m. on June 29. The victim told officers she had been visiting her sister at the complex when she became involved in an argument with another woman, identified in the report as a witness, over an earlier incident. During that dispute, the victim said she saw Reynolds smash a glass liquor bottle against the side of the building and hold the broken neck of the bottle in her hand.
According to the victim, the argument with the witness, which reportedly did not involve Reynolds, turned physical. The victim said she then suddenly felt blood running down her face and immediately went back inside her sister’s apartment.
Several witnesses told officers they saw Reynolds break the bottle and move toward the victim.
The witness involved in the fight told police she saw Reynolds break the bottle and swing the jagged neck at the victim two or three times. She said that after Reynolds struck the victim, she took the broken bottle neck from Reynolds and threw it to the ground. The witness told officers Reynolds had not been provoked and that she did not know why Reynolds allegedly attacked the victim. She also said she knows Reynolds well and had heard her earlier in the day talking about cutting someone.
GPD’s Forensic Crime Unit reportedly located a shattered vodka bottle in the walkway, with the broken bottle neck found about 10 feet away. Investigators also reported blood spatter in two apartments.
After being read her Miranda rights, Reynolds reportedly told officers she did not remember anything except heading to a friend’s home and then seeing blood everywhere. Police said she later changed her account, saying she had consumed an entire bottle of vodka that evening and kept the empty bottle for protection. The officer noted that Reynolds did not explain what she believed she needed protection from, but said she repeatedly stated that was why she kept the bottle.
Reynolds also reportedly said that she broke the vodka bottle while the victim and the witness were arguing, and then she swung it several times in an attempt to get everyone’s attention and stop the argument. She said someone grabbed the broken bottle neck from her, but she could not say who it was.
When she was asked whether she had hit the victim with the broken bottle neck, Reynolds reportedly said she did not remember hitting anyone because she may have “blacked out.” She said she takes medication for a mental health diagnosis, but she was unable to identify the medication. She said she did not intend to hurt anyone and was just trying to stop the fight.
The victim sustained injuries to her forehead and chest and required 11 stitches.
Reynolds, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. She has no local criminal history; more information about her criminal history and her bail amount will be available on Wednesday.
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.
