Gainesville woman on probation charged with battery that sent victim to the ER

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Daemani Kiara King, 20, has been charged with felony battery for allegedly battering a friend in March, leading to injuries that sent the victim to an emergency room.

At about 12:10 a.m. on March 1, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to Canopy Apartments (4400 SW 20th Avenue) and reported that King and two other unidentified females repeatedly punched the victim in her face, head, and upper torso; the victim reportedly suffered a large bump on her forehead, multiple bruises, a swollen eye, swollen and cut lips, a chipped tooth, and multiple lacerations on her face and arms.

The officer reported that the victim’s injuries were serious and permanent because a front tooth was chipped and she would likely have scarring from her other injuries. The victim was transported to an emergency room for treatment.

The officer also noted that King and the victim were good friends and had known each other for several months.

King, who is a designated violent felony offender of special concern, has been charged with felony battery. She has one felony conviction (violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); she is on probation after entering a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated battery for throwing bleach on a victim when she was 18. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $15,000 on the new charge; she is also being held without bail until her probation violation case is resolved.

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.