Gainesville man arrested for attacking neighbor with hammer and machete

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Frederick Joseph Stack III, 59, was arrested yesterday after allegedly attacking a neighbor with a hammer and machete.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 2:01 p.m., Stack chased two people, holding a hammer in one hand while swinging a machete with the other hand. Both victims reportedly told the officer that Stack narrowly missed them with the machete several times and they were afraid he would kill them.

The incident reportedly began after the second victim saw Stack trying to get into a female neighbor’s home with the hammer in his hand; the victim went to make sure the neighbor was safe.

One of the victims did not want to be identified, but Stack and the second victim are listed as living in different units at 100 NE 8th Avenue, where the incident occurred.

The officer reported that Stack was standing next to a backpack that contained a hammer and a machete. Stack allegedly ignored the officer’s instructions to get on the ground, backed away, and assumed a fighting stance. The officer deployed his taser and detained Stack.

Post Miranda, Stack declined to speak with the officer.

Stack has been charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and resisting an officer without violence. He has no criminal convictions; Judge Mark Moseley ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

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.