Man arrested for aggravated stalking after allegedly threatening to kill bartender and watch her bleed

Staff report

Updated on November 18, 2024: Strunk entered a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated stalking and was sentenced to six months of community control, followed by 4.5 years of probation, on September 12, 2023.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – John Walter Strunk, 48, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated stalking and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit after allegedly stalking an Outback Steakhouse bartender, threatening to shoot her, and telling an officer that he would enjoy watching her bleed.

Strunk reportedly went to Outback Steakhouse three times between May 15 and May 23; each time, he reportedly gave the victim tips of $40-$50, even though she did not directly assist him. On May 23, she served him at the restaurant’s bar, and Strunk reportedly offered to take her shopping and buy things for her. The victim gave him her phone number, and he began sending her “continuous” text messages.

On May 23, Strunk reportedly sent the victim a text, inviting her to stay at a hotel with him in Tampa, but she declined the invitation. He reportedly sent her a message stating that he was sexually attracted to her and wanted to maintain contact with her so she wouldn’t forget about him. The victim reportedly became alarmed at his messages and stopped responding to him; Strunk reportedly offered her $10,000 to stay with him at a hotel.

The next day, Strunk reportedly invited the victim to meet him, but she said she was working and just wanted to maintain an appropriate friendship. Strunk allegedly became hostile and started sending messages stating that the victim was stupid and that he would make her life miserable. After that, she blocked his phone number, but he allegedly called her from his work phone. The victim answered the call, and Strunk allegedly said she could block him, but she would have a bullet in her head. The victim called 911 after that call. Strunk reportedly left her a voicemail, asking for forgiveness and asking her to unblock him.

A Gainesville Police Department officer called Strunk and asked him to stop calling the victim, but he allegedly called the officer a slur and said he had people in the FBI. He also allegedly told the officer that the first round he shot would go to the victim’s face and that he would enjoy watching her bleed. The officer reported that he said the same thing two more times, then said, “I’m going to stand over her and watch her bleed.”

The officer again told Strunk to stop calling the victim, but Strunk reportedly said the only thing that would stop him would be a hollow-point .45 to the head. He allegedly said, “I’m going to love how she looks, the fear” and “She has no clue.”

The next day, Strunk allegedly left another voicemail on the victim’s phone, saying he would see her at Outback Steakhouse.

Officers engaged in a controlled text exchange with Strunk on the victim’s phone, and Strunk reportedly sent a photo of himself and a screenshot of his local address, along with a photo of a handgun. As a result, Strunk was arrested at his residence. Strunk allegedly had a handgun on the floorboard of his car under the driver’s seat when officers made contact with him.

Post Miranda, Strunk reportedly admitted visiting the victim at Outback Steakhouse three separate times and said he had given her tips each time. He said that when she rebuked his attempts to meet up with her, he felt betrayed because he had hoped for a “friends with benefits” relationship with her. Although the officer had not mentioned threats, Strunk reportedly said he had not threatened the victim; he also said that if he discussed everything he had said to the victim, it would get him in trouble. He also denied speaking with the officer who initially called him to ask him to stop calling the victim, although the call was reportedly captured on a body-worn camera.

Strunk has no criminal history. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $600,000, with a requirement for a GPS monitor upon release.

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.