Gainesville man arrested for cutting man he said owed him money

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lorenzo A. Tolbert, 65, was arrested early this morning for allegedly cutting a man he said owed him money at Campus Walk Apartments.

At about 12:48 a.m. on June 22, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to Campus Walk Apartments (914 SW 8th Avenue), where the victim said he had been sitting outside when Tolbert walked up and started yelling that the victim was going to give him the money he owed; he said Tolbert then punched him twice.

The victim said Tolbert pulled out a folding knife with the blade extended, and he tried to leave because he was afraid Tolbert would cut him; he said Tolbert stood over him and forcibly pushed him down onto the stairs. The victim said he tried to get up twice, and both times, Tolbert pushed him back down while holding the knife in his other hand.

The victim said that immediately after the second time Tolbert pushed him back down, Tolbert cut him with the knife, and at that point, he was able to rush past him and lock himself in his own apartment, where he called 911.

The officer reported that the victim’s shirt was cut and he had a laceration on his torso.

When an officer made contact with Tolbert, he reportedly stated spontaneously that the victim owed him money. Post Miranda, he declined to say anything else.

Tolbert has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery with a prior battery conviction, and false imprisonment. He has one felony conviction (violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (two violent), along with a history of dropped battery cases. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $200,000 with a requirement for a GPS monitor if he is released, along with a curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

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.