Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lavonta Eddie Sol, 33, was taken into custody late last night on an aggravated assault warrant after police say he backed his vehicle into a Gainesville Police Department patrol car at a gas station.
The incident happened at about 11:44 p.m. on July 19 at the Chevron station at 1024 West University Avenue. According to reports, Sol backed into an officer’s patrol vehicle, and another officer later ran a driver’s license check. That check reportedly showed Sol had an active warrant for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
After Sol was arrested on the warrant, officers reportedly searched him and found a concealed-carry undershirt, though no weapons were inside it. Police said they also observed marijuana “shake” and a burnt “blunt” in the driver’s side door pocket of Sol’s vehicle. A subsequent vehicle search reportedly turned up a crossbody bag on the front passenger seat containing 4.1 grams of methamphetamines, 4.6 grams of fentanyl, 3.7 grams of marijuana, a loaded Glock 23 pistol, 13 rounds of Smith & Wesson .40-caliber ammunition, multiple empty baggies, and an electronic scale.
After being read his Miranda rights, Sol reportedly acknowledged driving to the gas station and hitting the patrol vehicle. He also reportedly told officers he had driven from Kissimmee earlier that day with his wife and had been sitting in the passenger seat. Sol denied knowing anything about the crossbody bag.
Sol’s wife reportedly first told officers that Sol had been riding in the back seat, but she later changed her account and said he had been in the front passenger seat.
The active warrant stemmed from a March 15 incident in the 700 block of NW 4th Avenue. Police said a woman had been arguing with the victim before the victim went back to her vehicle. Sol allegedly then approached the victim’s car and pointed a silver pistol at her, making her fear she would be shot. The victim told police Sol said, “If you come back, you know what will happen,” before striking the front passenger-side window twice with the pistol. The responding officer reported seeing two scratches in the glass.
In connection with the March incident, Sol has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor property damage. The gas station incident led to additional charges, including possession of a weapon during the commission of a second-degree felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person knowingly prohibited from possessing those items, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sol has four felony convictions (two violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. He is on pre-trial release on a human trafficking case in Marion County. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $604,000.
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.
