Man arrested for attempted armed robbery at Circle K

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Jason McFatten II, 22, was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with attempted armed robbery, resisting violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer after allegedly trying to rob the Circle K at 1515 N. Main Street.

An employee of the store told a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer that McFatten entered the store at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday, with a shirt covering his face, and knocked over the credit card payment machine on the front counter. He then told the employee, “This is a robbery. Give me all your money.” The employee walked away from him behind the counter, and he walked along with her, telling her, “No, don’t walk that way.” She reportedly ignored him; when McFatten walked toward a door that led to an employee-only area, the employee told him to stop, and he did. She then went into the office and locked herself inside.

At about the same time, someone else entered the store through a side door and exchanged words with McFatten, who reportedly said he was going to shoot her. Throughout his interactions with both women, he allegedly continued to demand the store’s money and implied he had a firearm.

McFatten finally left the store without taking anything and crossed Main Street. A GPD officer saw McFatten walking northbound on N. Main Street and ordered him to stop, but McFatten allegedly ignored him and started running. Another officer was driving southbound on N. Main Street and pulled over to try to stop McFatten. The officer placed himself in McFatten’s path, and McFatten allegedly lowered his shoulder to try to get past and hit the officer in the chest. The officer reportedly grabbed McFatten and held him until another officer arrived and Tased him.

Post Miranda, McFatten denied being at the store and then refused to answer any more questions.

McFatten was previously arrested on April 21 for allegedly taking a bag of chips from Gator Spirit at 113 S. Main Street. He was released on his own recognizance with the condition that he not engage in any criminal activity.

McFatten has two misdemeanor convictions (none violent) and one pending misdemeanor charge; Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $155,000.

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.