Gainesville woman arrested for threatening to stab roommate

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Unique Alexandria Strawn, 25, was arrested early this morning and charged with threatening to stab her roommate.

At about 12:36 p.m. on February 9, Strawn reportedly called 911 to report an assault/battery between her and her roommate. The roommate told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that she heard a loud smashing noise; after she checked on Strawn and found that she had thrown a hot sauce bottle on the ground, they began arguing.

The victim reportedly said that Strawn armed herself with a cooking pan, started threatening to hit the victim, and tried to get the victim to fight. The victim said she picked up a vacuum cleaner to defend herself, but when she turned back around, she saw that Strawn had put the cooking pot down and had picked up a kitchen knife. Strawn allegedly ran toward the victim, holding the knife in a stabbing motion. The victim said she put the vacuum down because she realized it wasn’t going to do anything, and when Strawn got closer, she punched Strawn twice in the face in self-defense.

Another roommate reportedly said she saw Strawn holding the knife about 10 feet away from the victim and then running toward the victim with the knife, which led to the victim punching Strawn in the face twice.

Post Miranda, Strawn said she had been arguing with the victim and her other roommate about something she couldn’t quite remember, but it had been going on for about a year. She reportedly admitted to throwing the hot sauce bottle but said she wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. When she was asked about any weapons, Strawn reportedly said she had armed herself with a pot to defend herself, but a knife was never present; she reportedly admitted to walking behind the victim while she was trying to get to her room, and that might be why the victim thought she was moving aggressively.

Strawn has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation. Strawn will have to maintain an alternate residence.

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.