Man arrested for threatening to stab another man at GRACE Marketplace

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Albert Eddie Albritton, Jr., 50, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with aggravated assault, simple battery, and resisting arrest without violence after allegedly hitting another man and then threatening him with a knife in the cafe at GRACE Marketplace.

Albritton and the victim reportedly had a verbal argument at about 8 a.m. in which Albritton accused the victim of stealing items. Albritton allegedly hit the victim in the face with a closed fist, causing the victim to fall to the ground. Albritton then allegedly pulled out a knife and said, “I will kill you.” When Albritton realized the police had been called, he reportedly fled.

Staff told the responding Gainesville Police Department Officer that Albritton had walked into the woods west of GRACE; when the officer saw Albritton, he called out, “Police,” and Albritton allegedly started running. The officer reported that Albritton eventually stopped running, and he saw Albritton drop something on the ground just before he stopped. A knife was reportedly found near where Albritton was arrested.

Post Miranda, Albritton reportedly said he confronted the victim about stolen items and that when the victim denied stealing the items, he “juked” at him but never hit him. He said the victim just fell to the ground. He reportedly said he never had a knife and just used a knife sheath on his belt to scare the victim.

Albritton has 11 felony convictions and has served 5 state prison sentences, with the most recent release in January of 2022. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $20,000.

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.