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Former Reichert House Youth Program Manager accused of assault and battery on law enforcement officer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Caleb Young, 39, the former Reichert House Youth Program Manager, has been charged via sworn complaint with making threats against a Gainesville Police Department officer at a high school football game.

According to the sworn complaint, at about 10 p.m. on September 21, the officer was in full uniform while providing security at a high school football game at Citizen’s Field. Near the end of the game, a security fence was put up to keep fans away from the locker room and guide spectators toward a western exit.

Young, the parent of a player, reportedly demanded to be allowed into the area by the locker room, and the officer told Young he could not allow him into that area. The officer reported that Young became “very angry,” placed his hands on the officer, put his face a few inches from the officer’s face, and ordered the officer to let him through. When the officer continued to refuse, Young allegedly challenged the officer to meet him in the parking lot, which the officer interpreted as a desire to fight him. Young reportedly told the officer that he was not afraid of him because he carried a gun since Young also had guns. The officer reported that he was in fear that Young would attack him.

A third person, who reportedly heard the altercation from about 40 feet away, stepped between Young and the officer, and another witness reported that Young tapped the officer with his hand and called the officer “soft,” as if to taunt him into fighting. A third witness said the officer repeatedly asked Young to calm down, but Young kept advancing on the officer and “threatening him.”

The complaint alleges that Young left the stadium but found an alternative way into the secured area, where he appeared to taunt the officer by yelling at him, pointing at him, and pointing toward the parking lot. A witness reportedly said that it looked like Young was still threatening the officer and trying to get him to fight.

After he left the stadium, Young reportedly stayed in the parking lot for some time, apparently waiting for the officer. A witness told officers that he tried to get Young to leave, but Young stayed and appeared to be trying to identify the officer’s patrol car.

The next day, the principal of Gainesville High School gave Young a trespass warning for Citizen’s Field; at the invitation of the principal, Young reportedly went to the school to discuss the matter. A witness at the school reportedly told officers that Young was still upset with the officer and “wanted to get him alone.”

The officer reportedly decided to press charges because he is afraid that Young will find him or his family members and do them harm.

Young has been charged with battery on an officer and assault on an officer, both felonies. Young has no criminal history, but in 2007 he was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer; the charges were later dropped with the explanation that appropriate administrative action was deemed sufficient in lieu of prosecution. He was charged twice with passing a worthless check in 2008 and 2009, but the charges were dropped after restitution was made.

A warrant for Young’s arrest has not been issued as of this writing.

The Reichert House program officially ended on May 31, although some summer programs were held. The employees were not guaranteed employment past September 30, although some were able to find other jobs in City government.

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. 

  • Another Reichert House success story for the news. Just imagine the morality he imbued in the minds of the nice “at-risk youth.”

  • If this is true the accused should be arrested immediately and prosecuted. Hopefully the DA’s office will handle this matter efficiently and appropriately.

    • Question is, why wasn’t he?
      DA’s office doing something efficiently and appropriately? Good luck with that.

    • Of course the DA/State attorney won’t indict him. Remember that longtime-do nothing Old Man Chief Tony Jones is now top “investigator” for that office. He long protected that result-less program, particularly its head, John Alexander (who some actually think is his son or “partner”). Nothing serious will happen to this ex-manager for sure! Why do you think he did all of these things and got away with them? He knew he’d never see a jail cell and won’t now. I do recall a city audit that found numerous financial irregularities with Reichert House that were disputed by Tony Jones but the State Auditors found the exact same thing. Duh…Wait and see, somehow the Officer and the accused will publicly reconcile and it will all be concluded as an unfortunate misunderstanding yet again. No need for formal charges, they will be dropped. And to help ensure it never happens again, Mr. Young will be hired for a great new job.

  • Who is the journalist with all this “he say she say?” Come on! Where are the documented facts? It’s sad how they do a blk man! Was this even WORTH A WRITE UP w no proper sources? 😑😒

    • “He say she say”? Did you read the article? MULTIPLE witnesses saw and heard the defendant and reported it. That’s called evidence. That is documentation of the facts. Those are “proper sources.”

      See folks, this is a perfect example of how some people want to imbue any situation they don’t like with racism. This happens all the time in the criminal justice system by the way. Family members always claim the defendant was targeted by the police, blah, blah, blah. Even when the evidence is overwhelming (as it is here).

      This wouldn’t really be a problem except that now these twenty-something journalists with no experience in the system, but plenty of regressive indoctrination, hear what they want to hear and print these complaints as if they’re true. Next thing you know, the system is “oppressive” and only trying to “mass incarcerate black men.”

      Be honest V, were you even there when this happened? Did you yourself see or hear anything? Do you have any credible reason to doubt what these multiple witnesses said? Give us an honest answer.

    • Surprised you didn’t bring up George Floyd, yeah, it’s the exact same thing right?

  • Young is a complete ass. Why do so many of these people think they don’t have to obey the law? I hope he gets what redhe deserves.

    • U ding bat. U know both about him nor the fact that he works for GPD. Just commenting, stupidly, on an article someone botched. There’s real info out there ya know.

  • Great role model, follow the rules. There have been shootings there. Police just trying to protect the youth. Of course, it takes time for the sworn compliant. And it may be dropped after the ex-chief looks into it. Take “Race” out of every single time. It’s like “Calling Wolf”, people are getting tired of that being the excuse for everything. Then when something that does happen, people will not believe it. And that will be a sad day.

    • When has there been shootings at citizen field? Better yet when did GPD begin to care about the youth except for the white side of town….on top of that if Gainesville was for the black side of town, why would they get rid the juvenile programs…there are no programs. So just stop! It’s most definitely about race. Gainesville builds up for uf and whites. Blacks mainly live the slum life with no resources…and I’m not a welfare chick talking.

  • Sad that this person was so involved with “helping” at risk youth. What a role model he is not, both to his own children and the vulnerable others.

    • People are human….it’s sad they were involved in helping youth? Did you try to get out there and help. What’s sad is people who don’t help at all have alot to say. Welcome to alachua county though. Where the homeless and UF students get taken care of better then the youth!

  • Now we know why District 1 youth haven’t grown up so well, with such a role model… 🥺

  • All I can say is that if this were GPD in years past, Young would have been provided transportation from the area via ambulance.

  • Playing devil’s advocate ,was there a good reason for him to be let back to where his child was?if so the officer showed he follows orders no matter the situation..hmmm .I see no problem with offer ing to hand a officer a azz whipping or get one if the officer gave no assistance to solve the parents problem other than no can’t let you back there.

    • You see no problem with this guy threatening an officer. That, pbrain, IS the problem.

    • “We follow orders son. We follow orders or people die! It’s that simple. Are we clear”?

  • Boot his sorry offspring off the team so that no similar problems will arise.

    • Who are you to say someone’s offspring is sorry. It says alot about your character and the people who 👍🏾

  • So, three times in the past Young could have been charged and, instead, he was hired as Reichert House Youth Program Manager.

    With this fourth charge he should at least have a seat on the City Commission.

    • Even better the last 15 years, he has had seat on ex-Chief of GPD’s “TJ” lap.

  • Caleb Young seems like he has major anger problem, substance abuse problem, or both and is obviously a terrible example for kids. Thank goodness the Reichert House was shut down.

    Parents, fans, staff, etc. aren’t allowed in the children’s locker rooms / changing rooms and immediate adjacent area in ANY sport. Even a person with a room-temperature IQ like Caleb should be able to understand why.

    Wonder why he was so upset? Maybe he’s mad that he didn’t get a chance to peek on the boys changing? Hope he does some real time for this.

    • He has enjoyed special status privileges under the roof of the Reichart House. A program run under the auspices of our GPD Chief. Once a very good program with an emphasis on character development and responsibility.
      Gainesville is in rapid decline.

  • i was there at the game, funny how the news didn’t the cop is a coach for GHS and Caleb was calling him out for making bad calls at the game. this is all a bunch of Bull

    • Still no excuse for allegedly threatening a law enforcement officer in uniform.

  • I have no idea why the officer did not make an arrest and take him to jail? Evidently this guy was way off base.

    • Officer should have requested backup when the conversation went to “guns”, then followed by an arrest.

  • Sounds like he wants special privileges. Can you imagine the chaos if all parents were allowed in locker room after a game. Plus no privacy for kids changing. You think those coaches wants those parents back there questioning his coaching decisions. Sounds like this guy thinks he’s too special to follow the rules.

  • So what was program manager, Caleb Young, teaching the kids at Reichert House?

    • He sounds like someone under the influence of alcohol. So he was teaching them drinking is ok, combat “the man” whenever you can, refuse and refute all authority, and you can be good and still write hot checks and threaten people.

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