Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended Jackson Telusma, 33, on allegations of vandalism and threats involving a knife. Telusma is accused of smashing a window, damaging a pickup truck’s taillight, and menacing a man with a knife.
At approximately 9:50 p.m. on December 28, a deputy from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence within the Palms of Archer Mobile Home Park, located at 7117 SW Archer Road. The residents informed the deputy that Telusma, who had lived with them for several months but is now homeless, is known for daily drinking binges that lead to aggressive behavior.
A woman residing in the home recounted an encounter with Telusma around 9:30 p.m. She engaged him in conversation through her bedroom window as he searched for his misplaced phone. Shortly after, she heard the sound of shattering glass. Another woman in the house heard the commotion and, upon investigating, saw Telusma outside. She shouted for him to leave, prompting him to flee the scene.
The deputy observed the broken window, estimating the damage to be approximately $100.
Prior to the incident, while patrolling the mobile home park, the deputy had noticed a man fitting Telusma’s description briskly walking near the residence where the window was later found shattered.
A male occupant of the home said that after the window was broken, he found Telusma and confronted him, asking him why he broke the window. He said that he and Telusma argued, and Telusma started threatening to kill him, with phrases like, “I’ll cut you,” “I’ll stab you,” and “I’m gonna kill you.” The victim said he decided to leave, but then Telusma pulled a knife out of his backpack, approached him, and stabbed his pickup truck, damaging a taillight. The deputy noted that the truck had a broken taillight, and he estimated the damage at $50.
The male victim said he told Telusma he had a gun for protection, although he said he never displayed a gun, and he said Telusma said he didn’t care and would still kill him.
The deputy reportedly found Telusma in the 6400 block of SW Archer Road at about 11 p.m., and Telusma stated spontaneously, “She’s lying.” A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a folding pocket knife in Telusma’s pants pocket.
Post Miranda, Telusma reportedly said at first that nothing had happened and he had not spoken with anyone that evening. He later reportedly said that he had spoken with a woman through the window and with the male victim, and he admitted to punching the window because he was upset. He said he never stabbed the pickup truck or threatened the male victim; he denied pulling out a knife and said he did not have a knife, even though the deputy had just taken one from his pocket. He reportedly said the male victim had threatened to shoot him, but he also said he never saw the male victim with a gun.
Telusma has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of misdemeanor property damage. He has no criminal history, and Judge Adam Lee set bail at $75,000.
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.
