Gainesville man arrested for pointing gun at drive-thru employee

Staff report

Updated on August 31 with bail information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jesse Matthew Lyles, 41, was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at a Taco Bell drive-thru employee after she said she didn’t know what a ramekin was.

On August 25, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Taco Bell (7410 W. Newberry Road), where the victim said a white male driving a red Toyota pulled into the drive-thru and ordered food; she said he asked for a ramekin of cheese, and when she said she didn’t know what a ramekin was, he became angry. She said he drove away, circled the building, and drove back up to the drive-thru window, where he pulled out a pistol, cocked it, and pointed it at her. She said she asked if he was going to shoot her, and he quickly drove away. She said she was in fear for her life and thought he was going to shoot her.

Another employee reportedly witnessed the incident and confirmed the victim’s account.

The deputy reportedly found Lyles at Panda Express (710 NW 60th Avenue). Post Miranda, Lyles reportedly said he did not want to answer questions after saying he knew what this was about. A loaded black pistol was reportedly found in a fanny pack around his waist.

Lyles, who told Court Services he is an Uber driver, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. However, the motion was later withdrawn, and on August 28, Judge James Colaw set bail at $500,000.

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.