Hawthorne man charged with aggravated battery, DUI, underage drinking

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ronald David Hamilton, 18, of Hawthorne, was arrested just after midnight last night and charged with aggravated battery, simple battery, DUI with property damage, and underage drinking after allegedly backing his truck into a woman and hitting other cars in a downtown Gainesville parking lot.

Bystanders told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that Hamilton had been following a woman and touching her against her will; a crowd reportedly gathered and began arguing with Hamilton about his behavior toward the woman.

After the woman confronted Hamilton, she was reportedly standing behind his truck with another person when Hamilton, who allegedly was aware that the woman was standing behind his truck, put the truck into reverse and backed into her, injuring her ankle.

Hamilton then allegedly continued backing up, hitting multiple parked cars, then pulled forward, hitting more parked cars, before being pulled out of his truck by bystanders.

The officer reported that Hamilton showed signs of impairment and that there were two open cans of beer in his truck. While at the emergency room, the officer reported that Hamilton spontaneously said, “I know how it works, I got a DUI, I had a couple of beers tonight.”

Hamilton reportedly refused to take a breath test and asked for a lawyer. However, when he asked about his charges and was told he would be charged with possession of alcohol by a person under 21, he reportedly said, “You might as well charge the bar, they sold it to me.”

Hamilton has no local adult criminal history but just turned 18 in January. Bail information is unavailable on weekends.

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. 

  • He’s got one thing correct – the bar should be charged if they did sell the beer knowing he was underage. I’m pretty sure a good attorney will come to rescue this idiot’s deflection and passing it to another.
    That’s America, blame someone else for your stupid irresponsible actions.

    • Yes. They need to charge the bar and hold them liable for his drunk driving…they should take the liquor license away from the bar, arrest the bartender…
      And what, The city still wants open container????

  • using a fake ID or someone’s else ID is always a possibility.. hoping they punish the right party

    • The guy said the bar sold it to him… he didn’t say, “ I used a fake ID” he said: “ you might as well charge the bar, they sold it to me”… just like a drug dealer selling fentanyl and then someone dies…take the bars liquor license away. No open container. There’s nothing worse than a obnoxious drunk and then they get in a car and kill someone in a hit and run.

  • He might want to wipe that impish smirk off his face before he goes before the judge.

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