Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 37-year-old man named Clarence Dion Banks was apprehended last night following allegations of burglary and battery, compounded by his attempt to mislead an officer with a false identity.

Late in the evening on January 4, precisely at 11:07 p.m., officers from the Gainesville Police Department were dispatched to a residence located in the 1100 block of NE 25th Terrace. The officers were acting on information suggesting a wanted individual might be present at the location. With the owner’s permission to search the premises, the officers discovered Banks attempting to conceal himself under a cover, refusing to reveal his identity.

After some time, Banks emerged from his hiding spot and reportedly provided officers with a fictitious name and a slightly altered birthdate. When a records check yielded no matches, Banks ultimately disclosed his true identity. Although he was not the primary suspect officers were searching for, he was found to have two outstanding warrants.

The first warrant originated from an incident on September 27. According to reports, Banks requested to spend the night at a woman’s apartment. Upon her refusal, he allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs. Later, the victim reportedly witnessed Banks exiting her apartment with a bag of groceries. Upon being spotted, Banks attempted to flee, dropping the groceries. In the subsequent confrontation, Banks allegedly charged at the woman, pushing her down and striking her multiple times. The victim suffered severe injuries, including a deep laceration to her knee, exposing the bone, and was reportedly covered in blood.

Banks now faces charges of burglary, two counts of battery with a prior conviction of battery, and providing false information to law enforcement. His criminal history includes eight felony convictions, three of which are violent, and one sexual offense, along with 12 misdemeanor convictions, including one violent offense. He has previously served a state prison term for aggravated battery by a detainee and lewd and lascivious exhibition in a detention facility, with his release occurring in February 2025. Judge Meshon Rawls has set his bail at $202,000.

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.