Man on pre-trial release arrested for threatening woman with gun

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brian Denard Ellis, 45, was arrested last night and charged with felony battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and driving without a valid license after allegedly threatening a woman with a gun.

At about 10:07 p.m. on October 25, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Holly Heights area, where the victim reportedly said Ellis had approached her car window asking for another person who was in the car. She said when she got out of her vehicle, Ellis pushed her. The victim also reportedly said that Ellis “aggressively” approached her vehicle with his hand on a pistol that was visible at his hip, saying “something to the effect of he doesn’t care about her life.”

The arresting deputy noted that Ellis is known for possessing firearms despite his status as a convicted felon; he is also on pre-trial release with a prohibition of possessing any firearms. The deputy also noted that the battery charge is a felony because Ellis has a prior battery conviction.

A deputy reportedly found Ellis driving on SW 61st Street, north of SW 20th Avenue, although his license is suspended. The deputy noted that Ellis has nine previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.

Ellis has seven felony convictions (none violent) and 15 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2017. He was arrested in May for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and released on $60,000 bail. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail on the new charges at $122,000.

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.