Man arrested on firearm charges after allegedly running from officers

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brian Steven Reichmann, 21, was arrested early this morning after allegedly displaying a firearm downtown while intoxicated and then running from officers.

At about 1:47 a.m. on May 6, a Gainesville Police Department officer reportedly saw Reichmann and two other people starting fights in the 100 block of West University Avenue. He reported that he saw one of Reichmann’s friends hitting a random vehicle that was leaving the State Attorney’s Office parking lot and walked over to intervene in an argument between Reichmann, his friends, and a witness who was with the owner of the car that had been hit.

The witness reportedly told the officer that Reichmann had pointed a gun at her while they were arguing.

The officer reported that Reichmann tried to walk away when he saw the officer, but his friends told him to come back; however, Reichmann kept a low wall between himself and the officer. The officer saw a handgun in Reichmann’s waistband, and when Reichmann moved his hands toward his waist, the officer drew his firearm and told Reichmann not to reach for his gun.

The officer reported that Reichmann took advantage of the growing crowd to run northbound through the Wells Fargo parking garage; after a short foot chase, Reichmann was taken into custody in the 300 block of North Main Street.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a 9mm handgun that was loaded with hollowpoint rounds.

A second witness told the officer that she saw Reichmann pull a gun from his waistband and flash a “gunlight” at the first witness, causing her to fear for the first witness’s safety. At least one other person told the officer they ran for cover when they saw the gun.

Post Miranda, Reichmann reportedly said he didn’t do anything wrong and was only protecting “his family” from the other people at the scene, but he did not say anything about other people threatening him with weapons.

Reichmann reportedly admitted to pointing his “spotlight” at people, and when asked to clarify, he said it was an “Olight,” mounted to his gun. Reichmann reportedly admitted that he had been drinking and was intoxicated. He said he ran because he was afraid when he saw the officer approaching.

Reichmann was transported to an emergency room because he suffered superficial injuries after tripping during the foot chase, but he reportedly declined treatment.

The officer reported that the first witness left the scene and did not want to press charges of aggravated assault, once Reichmann was taken into custody. Reichmann’s friends were also reportedly gone by the time the officer returned to the original area.

Reichmann has been charged with improper exhibition of a firearm, resisting an officer without violence, using a firearm under the influence of alcohol, and disorderly conduct. He has no criminal history, and Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $8,000 and ordered him to have no weapons and refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs.

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.