Man charged with firing gun in back yard in Midtown area

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Emmanuele Rollans-Tirado, 33, was arrested early this morning after residents in the Midtown area reported gunshots.

At about 10:27 p.m. on November 22, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the 100 block of NW 11th Street after multiple people called 911 to report gunshots.

The officer made contact with a caller who said he’d heard multiple gunshots while he was in his bedroom with his roommate; the caller said the shots came from the house south of their residence. The roommate reportedly corroborated the caller’s story.

The officer reported hearing four gunshots as he approached the house; he wrote that he saw Rollans-Tirado walking out of his back yard with a gun in his hand, pointing toward the ground. The officer reported that the gun’s magazine holds 17 rounds and was loaded with 13 rounds. The officer drew his firearm and ordered Rollans-Tirado to drop his gun, and he complied.

While being placed in handcuffs, Rollans-Tirado reportedly said he was defending his property.

Post Miranda, Rollans-Tirado reportedly said he had previously shot his gun inside his house on July 4 and thought it was legal to do that. He reportedly contradicted that statement later by saying he had shot his gun that night, but he could not say why and then said, “I am lying to you.”

The officer reported that Rollans-Tirado made several statements about being dishonest and became uncooperative. The officer also reported that Rollans-Tirado smelled like alcohol and his eyes were red and watery, indicating that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Officers reported finding three shell casings matching the firearm Rollans-Tirado had been holding.

Rollans-Tirado has been charged with firing a weapon on residential property and using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, both misdemeanors. He has no criminal convictions, but he was arrested in 2018 for drug possession and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and successfully completed a pre-trial diversion program, resulting in the charges being dropped. Judge Robert Groeb ordered him released on his own recognizance.

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.