Alachua man arrested for allegedly firing shotgun at neighbors who were looking for lost dog

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

ALACHUA, Fla. – Ronald Darrick Carlisle, 44, was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after allegedly firing a shotgun at neighbors who were looking for their dog.

At about 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning, a father and son who were neighbors of Carlisle’s in Alachua drove to Carlisle’s property to look for a missing dog. When they arrived at the front of Carlisle’s residence, Carlisle allegedly discharged a double-barreled shotgun in the air because he didn’t recognize them. When he recognized them, the three reportedly engaged in a conversation in which Carlisle reportedly said that not only did he have the dog, but he also had an ATV 4-wheeler belonging to the victim, and they could get it back if they paid him $20. The conversation escalated into an argument, and when the victim approached Carlisle, Carlisle allegedly pointed the shotgun at him and said he was waiting for a good reason to blow his brains out.

The victim then reportedly walked over to the ATV to take it back, and when he touched the ATV, Carlisle allegedly fired the shotgun in the air a second time. The victim backed off, but when he tried to touch the ATV a second time, Carlisle allegedly pointed the shotgun at the tires of the ATV and said, “I’m going to shoot the tires.”

The victims told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that they then went back to their vehicle and left, with Carlisle allegedly continuing to point the shotgun at them.

Deputies made contact with Carlisle at his residence, and post Miranda, Carlisle reportedly admitted to pointing the the shotgun at the victim but claimed it was for self-defense. He also reportedly claimed that the victim had a firearm and fired it at the front of his property.

Carlisle has two felony convictions; he was sentenced to four months in the county jail in December of 2021 for possession of cocaine. He has been released on $25,000 bail.

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.