Gainesville man arrested for ramming family member’s vehicle with two children inside

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyler Ashton Carter, 30, was arrested yesterday for allegedly ramming a vehicle driven by a family member, with two children inside.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 12:51 p.m. on December 26, Carter slapped the victim in the face during an argument. The victim got into her vehicle with two eight-year-old children and tried to leave, but Carter allegedly got into his own vehicle and rammed the driver’s side door of her vehicle.

The victim said that because she was afraid of what Carter would do, she didn’t have time to secure the children in their seatbelts, and the children were injured when they were thrown around inside the car. All three victims told the officer they had injuries after the incident.

The victim said that as she drove away, Carter followed her, and when she stopped her vehicle in an attempt to ask for help, Carter got out of his car and said, “Imma kill y’all.”

The victim said she got back into her vehicle while calling 911, and she stayed on the phone while Carter allegedly followed her, continuing to ram her vehicle as she drove.

The victim said the children were afraid, and both children reportedly said they believed they were going to die. The children reportedly corroborated the victim’s story.

The officer reported that the victim’s vehicle sustained “substantial damage.”

Because the victim is pregnant, Carter has been charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and felony property damage. He has two felony convictions (one violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2017. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.