Man arrested downtown for threatening to shoot a man

Staff report

Updated on January 3 with pre-trial detention information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Hamlet Jose Amarante, 31, was arrested early this morning after allegedly pointing a gun at a group of people downtown and threatening to shoot a man.

At about 1:55 a.m. on December 25, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to 413 S. Main Street, where the victim said Amarante had gotten into an argument with the victim’s friend and then pulled out a Glock 43, pointed it at the victim, and said, “I’ll shoot you [expletive].”

The victim said Amarante had been sitting across the street, “antagonizing” the victim’s friend, and then Amarante crossed the street and started arguing with the victim and his friend before pulling his gun.

When the first officer arrived, several people standing on the sidewalk at 27 SE 4th Avenue pointed toward the back yard of the building and whispered, “He has a gun.” The officer saw Amarante’s hands reaching for the top of the chain link fence, presumably preparing to climb over and run. The officer ordered Amarante to stop, and after Amarante was handcuffed, he reportedly said his gun was in his waistband, and the officer retrieved the gun.

Post Miranda, Amarante reportedly said he had been drinking downtown and went for a walk to sober up before driving. He said he got into a random argument with a group of homeless people and remembered that the victim’s friend had said, “You don’t want to do this.” However, the officer reported that Amarante could not explain why the man would say that.

Amarante said he sat down across the street from the group, rolled a marijuana joint, and walked over to the group to ask for a lighter. The officer noted that a search incident to arrest produced a lighter, but Amarante said he had forgotten he had it.

Amarante said an argument started, and he found himself surrounded, but he never displayed his gun or put his hand on it.

The officer reported that the callers who reported the incident stated that a firearm was visible during the argument. When the officer asked Amarante about that, Amarante reportedly admitted to putting his hand on his gun under his hoodie, but he still said he never pulled it from the waistband holster.

A search of Amarante’s bag incident to arrest reportedly produced about 9 grams of marijuana.

Amarante, whose listed address is in Pembroke Pines, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. His criminal history is unavailable, and Judge Julie Johnson ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial. On January 2, Judge Robert Groeb granted the motion and ordered him held 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.