Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early today, authorities apprehended 38-year-old Collin Lydal Battershell near the University of Florida campus. His arrest followed a call about a man wielding a hacksaw menacingly at another individual. This marks Battershell’s tenth arrest since October 2022.

At approximately 1:56 a.m. on April 18, officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to an incident involving a white male reportedly brandishing a hacksaw on West University Avenue’s 1200 block. The caller claimed that the man aimed the hacksaw at him.

Upon arrival, an officer spotted Battershell on the sidewalk outside The Hub (1111 W. University Avenue), holding what looked like a saw. When approached, Battershell allegedly fled, ignoring the officer’s commands to halt and relinquish the object he was carrying.

The pursuit that ensued involved several officers, with patrol vehicles employing lights and sirens. Eventually, they succeeded in apprehending Battershell.

Currently residing at GRACE Marketplace, Battershell faces charges of resisting an officer without violence. His criminal history includes three non-violent felony convictions and eight non-violent misdemeanor convictions. Since October 2022, he has been arrested ten times in Alachua County. His most recent arrest was in September 2025 for allegedly stealing a phone from a Krispy Kreme employee, leading to a four-month jail sentence in January 2026 after he pleaded nolo contendere. He was credited for 114 days served. On this latest charge, Judge Denise Ferrero set his bail at $15,000.

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.