Gainesville man charged with holding knife to woman’s throat, cutting the back of man’s head

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Matthew Quin Turner, 44, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery and aggravated battery on a pregnant female after allegedly threatening a woman and cutting a man with a knife.

The female victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that the male victim had picked her up in her car so she could get away from Turner, who had been drinking heavily. She reported that she believed Turner used her phone to track her vehicle, and Turner found the two victims in the 4700 block of NW 19th Street. The female victim reportedly said that Turner held a knife inches from her throat and then attacked the male victim inside the car; Turner allegedly told the male victim to walk away, then followed him, punched him, and cut him in the back of the head with a 6-inch Bowie knife. Turner also allegedly slashed the front two tires of the vehicle before leaving, causing approximately $400 in damage.

The female victim reported that she realized after the incident that Turner had taken her phone, which had been charging, and used it to locate a tracker that had been placed in her vehicle. She said he followed them on an electric dirt bike.

An officer found an electric dirt bike, wet from the rain, in a covered and enclosed garage at Turner’s residence; officers learned that Turner also owned a black Jeep, and they reportedly found Turner a short distance from his home in the Jeep.

Post Miranda, Turner reportedly said he didn’t know anything about the incident and had been home for the past five hours. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced the female victim’s cell phone, which appeared to be rebooting after having been erased.

Turner has been charged with aggravated battery, aggravated battery on a pregnant female, theft, and property damage over $200. He has no local criminal history. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $202,000.

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.