Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have arrested Thomas Leverne Mack, 63, following accusations of assaulting a woman and issuing life-threatening declarations.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, an altercation unfolded on February 15 at a family residence in Lincoln Estates. The confrontation between Mack and the victim escalated from a verbal dispute to violence, as Mack allegedly proclaimed, “You must not know who I am,” before striking the woman five times in her head. The situation intensified when she attempted to stand up, and Mack reportedly choked her.

Amidst the chaos, Mack received a call from a mutual acquaintance. As Mack spoke on the phone, the victim seized the moment to attempt an escape and seek help, but Mack allegedly dragged her back inside, threatening her with death if she dialed 911.

Subsequently, Mack is accused of taking a butcher knife from the kitchen, making menacing statements such as, “I will kill you” and “I will show you who I am.”

The victim recounted trying to contact 911, only for Mack to allegedly snatch her phone away and conceal it. With the knife in hand, he reportedly warned, “If you say one more word, I’ll kill you right now.” The friend, still on the line, is said to have overheard the entire incident.

The friend reportedly drove to the home and confronted Mack, who said he just wanted to talk things out. Mack reportedly showed the butcher knife to the friend, and when the friend asked Mack whether he had made any threats, Mack reportedly said he did.

Mack reportedly gave the victim’s phone back to her, and when she said she was going to call 911, Mack allegedly said he would find her and kill her, no matter where she went; he then left the home.

The responding officer said the victim’s arm was swollen, and she had a scratch on her hand and blood on her leg.

The officer reported that while she was speaking to the victim, Mack called his friend; the officer called Mack back at that number, but although the officer said the person who answered was clearly Mack, he allegedly gave a different name and said Mack had not been around for hours. The officer filed a sworn complaint, a warrant for Mack’s arrest was issued on February 20, and he was arrested on February 24.

Mack has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and obstructing communication with law enforcement. Mack has 22 felony convictions (seven violent) and 22 misdemeanor convictions (nine violent), and he has served nine state prison sentences, with his most recent release in October 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.