Man on federal probation arrested for displaying firearm

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Hal Bernard Black Jr., 31, was arrested early this morning for allegedly displaying a firearm and two other weapons offenses.

At about 12:46 a.m. on March 10, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a report of an armed disturbance at Food Max (1304 East University Avenue); the caller reportedly described a vehicle and said the occupants may have a firearm.

An officer observed several traffic violations and conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of NE 17th Street. Black was one of three people in the vehicle, which was found to be a rental car in the name of the woman who was driving; the driver reportedly provided consent to search the vehicle and was “adamant” that there should be no drugs or firearms in the vehicle.

The search reportedly produced a handgun with an extended magazine under Black’s seat and brass knuckles in the center console.

Surveillance video reportedly showed Black displaying a handgun with an extended magazine, and he was “visibly aggressive, walking towards a crowd of individuals,” and saying, “I’ll air this [expletive] out.”

An anonymous witness reportedly identified Black as the man who had displayed the gun.

The other two occupants of the car reportedly denied ownership of the handgun or the brass knuckles.

Black has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, improperly exhibiting a firearm, and unlawfully concealing a weapon. He has one state felony (non-violent) and one state misdemeanor (non-violent), and he is a registered federal sexual offender who is on federal probation for sex trafficking. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $400,000.

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.