Gainesville man arrested for extensively damaging relative’s vehicle over $25 loan

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alexander Ackerman McNeil, 41, was arrested yesterday after allegedly causing thousands of dollars of damage to a relative’s vehicle because of a $25 loan.

At about 10:26 a.m. on March 15, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to an apartment in Linton Oaks, where the victim said McNeil had intentionally damaged his vehicle.

The victim said McNeil came to his apartment unannounced at about 8:30 p.m. on March 14, started banging on his door, and said he’d come to get $25 that he had loaned to the victim. The victim said he responded from an upstairs window, “I know you didn’t come over here for $25,” and McNeil said he would “[expletive] your car if I don’t get my $25.” The victim said he went back to what he was doing, but he heard noises outside, and his girlfriend saw McNeil using a trash can to hit the windshield of the victim’s vehicle and then picking up a second trash can to hit the hood of the vehicle.

The deputy reported that the victim sent McNeil a text at 2 a.m. that said, “Why did you bust my window?” and McNeil responded, “You should never owe me again.”

The deputy reported that one side of the hood was completely caved in and there were six large impact starbursts on the windshield, bent metal trim on the windshield, and a scratch on the side of the car.

At about 1:45 p.m. on March 15, the deputy spoke with McNeil at his residence. Post Miranda, McNeil reportedly said he had been in St. Augustine until 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. on March 14. When he was asked whether he had damaged his relative’s car, he reportedly said he wasn’t sure if he had done it or not.

McNeil has been charged with felony property damage. He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he served one three-year state prison and was released in 2024. 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.