Gainesville man arrested for smashing windows of vehicle after parking spot dispute

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Matthew Oneil Spence, 23, was arrested early this morning after allegedly breaking the front and rear windshields of a vehicle with a bat after a fight over a parking spot.

On March 29, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Palm Bay Apartments (954 SW 16th Avenue), where the victim said she and Spence had argued over a parking spot outside the apartment building. The victim said that she and Spence’s girlfriend got into a physical fight; after the fight, Spence’s girlfriend went into her apartment, and Spence allegedly used a baseball bat to smash the front and rear windshields of the victim’s vehicle, causing about $1,400 in damage.

The victim told the officer that she saw Spence breaking the windshields on her car and told him that she was calling the police, so Spence hid the baseball bat in a nearby vehicle and left the area in a different vehicle. Spence was reportedly arrested a short time later in a nearby neighborhood.

Post Miranda, Spence reportedly confessed to breaking the victim’s car windows.

Spence has been charged with felony property damage and tampering with evidence. He has a juvenile conviction from 2019 and six adult felony convictions (nonviolent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in January 2025.

Spence is also facing a sworn complaint for allegedly elbowing a Gainesville Fire Rescue employee in the face, chipping two of his teeth, in February.

Judge Adam Lee set bail at $87,500.

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.