Man on pre-trial release arrested on warrant after backing into GPD patrol vehicle

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lavonta Eddie Sol, 33, was arrested late last night on a warrant for aggravated assault after backing into an officer’s patrol vehicle at a gas station.

At about 11:44 p.m. on July 19, Sol reportedly backed his vehicle into a Gainesville Police Department officer’s patrol vehicle at the Chevron at 1024 West University Avenue. Another officer conducted a driver’s license check on Sol and found that he had an active warrant for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Sol was arrested on the warrant, and a search incident to arrest reportedly produced a concealed carry undershirt that did not contain any weapons. Officers reportedly saw marijuana “shake” and a burnt “blunt” in the driver’s side door pocket of Sol’s vehicle, and a search of the vehicle reportedly produced a crossbody bag in the front passenger seat that contained 4.1 grams of methamphetamines, 4.6 grams of fentanyl, 3.7 grams of marijuana, a loaded Glock 23 pistol, 13 rounds of Smith & Wesson .40 cal ammunition, multiple empty baggies, and an electronic scale.

Post Miranda, Sol reportedly admitted to driving his vehicle to the gas station and crashing into the patrol vehicle; he also reportedly said he had driven up that day from Kissimmee with his wife and had been sitting in the passenger seat. He denied knowing anything about the crossbody bag.

Sol’s wife reportedly said at first that Sol rode in the back seat, but she later changed her story and said he’d been in the front passenger seat.

The warrant was for a March 15 incident in which a woman got into an argument with the victim in the 700 block of NW 4th Avenue; after the victim retreated to her vehicle, Sol allegedly approached the victim’s car and pointed a silver pistol at her, causing her to fear that she would be shot. The victim said Sol told her, “If you come back, you know what will happen,” and then he hit the front passenger side window twice with the pistol; the officer reported that there were two scratches in the glass.

Sol has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor property damage in the March incident. Last night’s incident led to charges of possession of a weapon during the commission of a second-degree felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a firearm or ammunition by someone who is knowingly prohibited from possessing those items, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sol has four felony convictions (two violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2024. He is on pre-trial release on a human trafficking case in Marion County. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $604,000.

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.