Gainesville man arrested for threatening to cut two people with a box cutter over $75

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Edward Jesse Shaw, 73, was arrested yesterday after allegedly threatening to cut two men with a box cutter during a dispute over $75.

A Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer reported that Shaw arrived at a business in the 4300 block of NW 13th Street at about 4 p.m. on April 14, demanding that the owner of the business pay him $75. The owner reportedly told him to leave because he wasn’t supposed to be at the business, but Shaw allegedly produced a boxcutter while standing inside the doorway of the business. Shaw allegedly said, “Give me the money, or I’m gonna cut you.”

A second man told the officer he picked up a chair to protect himself while calling 911 because he was afraid he would be harmed.

When the owner told Shaw to leave a second time, Shaw reportedly walked outside and then turned, so the two men quickly closed the door to keep him out.

The owner reportedly told the officer that he was not afraid of Shaw and did not want to press charges.

Shaw reportedly left the scene but later turned himself in at GPD Headquarters.

Post Miranda, Shaw reportedly admitted going to the business to get his money. He said the owner pushed him out of the business, so he pulled a boxcutter in self-defense, but the officer reported that Shaw had previously been told to take the matter to civil court and had no reason to be at the business.

Shaw has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has one traffic conviction from 2000 but no other criminal history. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $25,000 but ordered that he could be released on his own recognizance if he is accepted to Mental Health Court.

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.