Gainesville man arrested for side-swiping car and crashing in a front yard after drinking at family event on Easter

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Raytheon Lamarcus Slater, 43, was arrested last night after allegedly side-swiping a vehicle and crashing into a front yard after drinking at a family event on Easter.

At about 10:21 p.m., Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers responded to a report that a pickup truck had hit a house in the 600 block of SE 15th Street; officers later determined that the structure had not been hit. A witness told an officer that Slater had been drinking all day at a family event.

The officer reported that Slater stumbled while walking and almost fell to the ground while leaning against a patrol vehicle. EMS offered medical treatment, but Slater reportedly became uncooperative and said he did not want to be transported to the hospital.

The officer reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from Slater and detained him in handcuffs after Slater reportedly refused to perform field sobriety exercises.

The witness reportedly told the officer again that Slater had been drinking all day and that family members had to put him in his pickup truck; she said that while she was following him home, he side-swiped vehicles, lost control of his pickup truck, and ran off the road into a front yard. She said she had to remove Slater from his truck after he drove into the front yard.

While an officer was transporting Slater to GPD headquarters for a breath test, another victim called 911 to report that a pickup truck hit her vehicle that was parked in the 1400 block of NE 1st Avenue.

Slater reportedly refused to provide a breath sample and said, “No, just take me to jail.” The officer reported that Slater kept falling asleep.

The officer transported Slater to an emergency room for medical clearance, but Slater reportedly again refused medical treatment.

The owner of the house reportedly told an officer that her flowers and fence were damaged, with a total value of about $300, but Slater has not been charged with property damage.

Slater has been charged with hit and run (leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage) and driving under the influence. He has three felony convictions (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2012. He was arrested for domestic battery in January 2025; the charges were dropped on April 3, but he is still facing a sworn complaint for violating his pre-trial release conditions by going to the victim’s apartment. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $5,000 on the new charges, with a requirement for a Transdermal Alcohol Monitor before he is released.

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.