Gainesville man arrested for biting police officer after rollover crash
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Marquel Shawn Harris, 43, was arrested last night after allegedly biting an officer; he was also booked for driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license.
At about 9 p.m. on April 4, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a rollover crash in the 1200 block of NE 53rd Avenue. An officer reported that Harris was standing next to a vehicle that had come to rest on the driver’s side in the tree line; the officer said Harris spontaneously stated that he was just trying to get home when other vehicles “cut him off,” which placed him behind the wheel of the crashed vehicle.
The officer checked the vehicle for other passengers and reportedly saw a handgun lying on the driver’s side window; another officer collected the firearm while the first officer checked Harris’s criminal history and found that he had three felony convictions.
The first officer noted that Harris’s eyes were watery and glassy, he was slurring his speech, and he was swaying; Harris was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance.
A third officer spoke with one of the other drivers and estimated that the damage to that victim’s car was about $6,000.
At the hospital, the first officer reported that a nurse supervisor told him that Harris’s blood alcohol level was 0.314%, almost four times the legal limit of 0.08%.
Post Miranda, Harris reportedly said multiple times that he did not understand his rights and then said he was “pleading the fifth.” Harris reportedly refused to provide a blood sample; the officer reported that he also has a previous refusal.
When officers adjusted Harris’s handcuffs so he could sign the discharge paperwork from the hospital, Harris allegedly pulled away. When the first officer walked over to assist and reached across Harris’s body to help secure his left arm, Harris allegedly bit the officer, leaving a long abrasion that broke the skin.
Harris has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery on a law enforcement officer, DUI with property damage, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license; the first officer noted that Harris’s license was suspended in January 2026 for refusal to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test. He has three local felony convictions (non-violent) and 14 local misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), including a DUI conviction. Judge William Davis set bail at $70,000.
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
Throw him in prison and leave him there. With 3 felony convictions and 14 local misdemeanor convictions, a DUI conviction, and now another DUI, his guy has no interest in being a decent productive citizen. I am all for giving someone another chance but when the behavior doesn’t chance, I have no sympathy for them.
With the amount of convictions you would think this animal should be in prison. We quarantine animals when they bite maybe do the same thing here.
Shocking? Primitive behavior from a primitive culture.
That’s a bizarre yet quite racist comment.
It’s sad there are humans like you who so look down on others.
stupid comment, go volunteer or work w sheriffs dept or shands hospital for a few months, then get back to us
Only $70,000 bail? That itself is a crime.
$70,000 for bail? Aggravated battery, exposing the officer to great bodily harm (HIV/AIDS). On a misfit who doesn’t belong free in society? Oh wait; he is one of Ward’s Ambassadors patrolling the outer reaches of the city. He had the gun for “protection”.