Man arrested for threatening customer at Gainesville Shopping Center and head-butting officer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Woodrow Tyrone Rochelle, 47, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery on an officer after allegedly threatening a customer at Gainesville Shopping Center with a stick and head-butting an officer.

Gainesville Police Department officers responded to the shopping center at 1302 N. Main Street at about 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, where the victim told an officer that Rochelle had a stick with a nail protruding from it and had swung the stick at him, causing him to run into a business and call 911. The victim described his assailant as a black male wearing camo pants and a black shirt.

An officer found Rochelle, wearing the clothes described by the victim and carrying a large section of a wood pallet, behind the business and gave commands for Rochelle to drop the stick. Rochelle reportedly dropped the stick but tried to pull away from the officer; the officer took him into custody after a brief struggle.

While a different officer was searching Rochelle after he was arrested, Rochelle allegedly turned and “head-butted” the officer in the face. The officer was not injured.

Rochelle has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. He has eight felony convictions (two violent) and 18 misdemeanor convictions (two violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $210,000.

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. 

  • If people would believe in the second amendment and Florida Stand your ground, law this crap will stop after a few were put down

  • This thug needs to be off the streets where he threatens other people. He’s obviously a dangerous nutcase.

  • Claw back previous judge paychecks and attorney fees. Put juries in charge to judge the ENTIRE records of suspects, including personal character. Then keep them locked, or ship them out.

  • Jaworski must be running for reelection, the bail amounts are getting higher!!

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