Man on pre-trial release arrested for pointing gun at customer inside business

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Toddrick Ardell Sutton Jr., 24, was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at another customer at a business.

At about 10:53 a.m. on July 24, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to calls about an armed disturbance at a business in the shopping plaza at 3045 SW 34th Street.

The victim said he was sitting down inside the business, speaking with staff, and a man he didn’t know was standing behind him, against a wall. The victim said the man kept looking at him, so he asked the man if he could help him with anything, and then the man pulled a gun from his waistband, walked over to the victim, and pointed the gun in his face. The victim said he was in fear for his life.

A witness reportedly said she saw a man enter the business and then stand behind the victim, who was sitting down and speaking with staff. She said the man lifted his shirt, pulled out a handgun, walked toward the victim, and pointed the gun at the victim, saying, “I ain’t scared; I will shoot you.”

The officer reported that the man, later identified as Sutton, was still inside the business, and a loaded pistol was found in Sutton’s waistband.

Post Miranda, Sutton reportedly said the victim turned and looked at him and asked whether he could help him with anything. He said the victim then said, “What you wanna do?” and the victim’s hand was in his pocket, so he pulled his firearm and pointed it at the victim because the victim could have had a weapon. He said the victim should be arrested for “playing.”

Sutton has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions, but he was arrested in June for aggravated battery on a pregnant victim and released on his own recognizance. Judge David Kreider ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.