Man on pre-trial release charged with throwing rocks at people downtown

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jamari Jakwon Kinsler, 20, was arrested early this morning and charged with simple battery after allegedly throwing rocks at two people downtown.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that two people said Kinsler threw rocks at them at about 12:17 a.m. on November 3 in the 200 block of SE 1st Street.

The victim and a second person (referred to as a witness in the arrest report) told the officer that they had argued with Kinsler and his friends over rocks that Kinsler allegedly threw at a vehicle. Kinsler and his friends allegedly followed the witness to the 200 block of SE 2nd Place, where the groups continued arguing and Kinsler allegedly threw a rock that hit both the victim and the witness.

The victim said that when he confronted Kinsler, Kinsler clutched his waistband as if he were reaching for a firearm, and the victim called law enforcement. The victim said Kinsler started changing clothes, from blue gym shorts to black sweats, to conceal his identity from law enforcement. The witness reportedly told the officer he did not want to be considered a victim in this incident.

The responding officer reportedly saw Kinsler riding away on a bicycle, and Kinsler allegedly continued to ride away when he saw the officer. The officer pursued Kinsler and reportedly apprehended him in the 400 block of SE 4th Place.

Post Miranda, Kinsler reportedly said his friend was throwing rocks at cars and people. He reportedly admitted following the witness and said his friends had argued with the witness, but he declined having any involvement in the incident or having a firearm. He reportedly said he never had any interaction with the victim.

The victim reportedly identified Kinsler as the person who threw a rock at him and the witness and then clutched at a firearm. The officer noted that Kinsler was wearing blue gym shorts under his black sweats.

Two independent witnesses reportedly said Kinsler and his friends had approached the victim and the witness and that Kinsler had argued with the victim before throwing rocks at the victim and witness. Both witnesses said they never saw a firearm.

Kinsler was charged with resisting an officer without violence in August 2024 after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop on his bike; post Miranda, he reportedly told the officer he panicked. He was released on his own recognizance on standard release conditions, which include not breaking any laws.

Kinsler has been charged with simple battery. He has juvenile convictions between 2017 and 2022 but no adult convictions. Judge Mitchell Bishop set bail at $1,000.

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.