Gainesville man arrested for allegedly threatening to stab man in McDonald’s drive-through

Staff report

Updated on June 21 with bail amount.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jeffery Mark Campbell, 42, was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening to stab a man in a McDonald’s drive-through.

At about 3:18 p.m. on June 19, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to McDonald’s (2880 NW 13th Street), where the victim said Campbell was driving out of the parking lot as he entered the drive-through line, and he temporarily blocked Campbell’s car.

Campbell reportedly backed his car up and almost hit the victim’s vehicle, but he managed to back up without hitting any other vehicles. He then allegedly boxed in the victim’s vehicle so that the victim could no longer move his car.

Campbell allegedly got out of his car, holding a box knife, and told the victim to get out of his car so he could stab him; he then hit the hood of the victim’s car. A passenger in Campbell’s car also got out and allegedly punched the victim’s passenger side door while telling him and his passenger to get out and fight.

The victim told the officer that he was afraid Campbell would stab him if he got out of his vehicle.

Witnesses reportedly said Campbell was threatening to stab the occupants of the victim’s vehicle. The officer reported that surveillance video showed Campbell getting out of his vehicle with an object in his hand and then demanding that the victim get out of his vehicle.

Campbell reportedly drove away when he realized law enforcement had been called, and he hid at the end of a dead-end street. A search of his vehicle reportedly produced the knife.

Post Miranda, Campbell reportedly said he had gotten out of his vehicle, but he wasn’t going to stab the victim; he just wanted him to get out of the vehicle. He later said he let his anger get the best of him and was sorry for engaging the victim at all.

Campbell has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has 11 felony convictions (three violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2017. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him released on his own recognizance.

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.