Gainesville woman arrested for knocking her 86-year-old mother to the floor and preventing others from helping her

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rose Marie Williams, 67, was arrested and charged with battery on a person over 65, battery on an officer, and false imprisonment after allegedly knocking her mother to the ground, chasing away a woman who tried to help her up, and kicking a responding police officer.

At about 8:35 p.m. on September 19, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to Williams’ home after a witness called and said the 86-year-old victim was on the floor inside the house.

An officer reported that Williams became upset with the victim for an unknown reason and hit her in the head, causing the victim to fall down; because of her age, she was unable to get up.

The witness reported that she tried to help the victim, but Williams charged at her and chased her out the door. The witness said she saw the victim trying to crawl toward the door in an attempt to get out of the house.

Responding officers reportedly saw the victim on the floor and gave loud verbal commands to Williams to open the door; instead, Williams allegedly tried repeatedly to shut the door and hit the victim with the door several times. Williams also allegedly grabbed the victim by the legs and tried to drag her away from the door so she could shut the door.

Officers reportedly entered the house through an unlocked back door and tried to handcuff Williams. She allegedly tensed her arms and tried to pull away, and once she was in handcuffs, she allegedly kicked an officer in the groin and leg multiple times.

The victim sustained injuries to her head, neck, and back and was transported to an emergency room. The officer sustained minor injuries.

Williams has been charged with battery on a person over 65 years of age, false imprisonment, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. She was previously arrested in April 2020 for threatening a relative with a knife and was sentenced to 18 months of probation after entering a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Judge Denise Ferrero ordered her held without bail.

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.