By Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Clark Adam Hobbs, 30, was taken into custody early this morning after allegedly assaulting another individual with a gun. He also faces charges for firearm possession as a convicted felon.
In the early hours of May 19, around 3 a.m., deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a scene near the 1500 block of SE 27th Street. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim standing on the road in front of a house, with a firearm lying nearby.
According to statements from the victim and a witness, the altercation began inside the residence when Hobbs became agitated. He reportedly stepped out to his camper parked in the driveway and pointed a firearm equipped with a purple laser at the victim.
Fearing for his safety, the victim armed himself with a baseball bat. Hobbs allegedly responded by striking the victim on the forehead with the firearm before discarding it among a pile of belongings outside.
The witness intervened by restraining Hobbs to prevent him from retrieving the weapon.
The deputy reported that the victim had blood on his forehead from being hit with the firearm.
Deputies reportedly found a firearm with a purple laser affixed.
Post Miranda, Hobbs reportedly said he was trying to defend himself from being attacked and could not say how the victim had gotten injured. He denied possessing or using the firearm, but he admitted to finding and acquiring it “after magnet fishing.”
Hobbs has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has one local felony (non-violent) and one local misdemeanor (violent), along with an out-of-state criminal history between 2012 and 2021 that includes a felony conviction out of Rochester, New York. Bail will be set tomorrow.
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
