Homeless woman arrested for pepper-spraying passerby

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Keshaira Monae Merthie, 33, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery after allegedly threatening to pepper-spray a dog and then pepper-spraying the dog’s owner.

At about 7:55 p.m. on February 20, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the 400 block of NE 1st Street, where the victim said he had argued with Merthie and then started to walk away, but Merthie followed him for about a block. He said Merthie threatened to pepper-spray his dog, and when he turned around to tell her to stop, she pepper-sprayed him in the face.

Post Miranda, Merthie reportedly said the victim walked by her and harassed her for being homeless. She said she followed the victim, threatened to pepper-spray his dog, and then pepper-sprayed him in the face.

The officer reported that Merthie had pepper spray at the time of her arrest.

The victim was reportedly unable to identify Merthie as the person who had pepper-sprayed him because he could not see, but he described her and her clothing.

Merthie, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has a juvenile conviction but no adult criminal convictions. She has been charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial.

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.