Man on probation arrested after breaking into multiple occupied apartments at Tiger Bay, threatening one victim with a Sawzall blade, and dragging another victim out of her apartment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Terrell Edward Gladin, 41, was arrested yesterday after allegedly attempting to break into one apartment at Tiger Bay, entering a second apartment and threatening a victim with a Sawzall blade, and entering a third apartment and dragging a victim out onto the sidewalk.

At about 8:38 a.m. on April 24, Gladin reportedly went to Tiger Bay Apartments (2415 SE 4th Lane), looking for his daughter; however, he mistakenly went to the wrong apartment, and the mother of his daughter told a responding Gainesville Police Department officer that she heard a loud “boom” and sounds of someone forcefully kicking, knocking, and banging on the door of a nearby apartment. She said she heard a male voice she recognized as Gladin’s, talking about their daughter, and she went outside and saw Gladin near her vehicle. She said he sat down on the steps but fled when she said she was calling the police.

The officer reported that there was confirmed damage to the front door of the nearby apartment.

At about 9:10 a.m., Gladin allegedly used a detached Sawzall blade to pry open the lock on another apartment where two people were sleeping; he went into one bedroom, rummaged through dresser drawers, and stole the occupant’s wallet and car keys while she slept.

Gladin then allegedly entered a second bedroom, and the occupant of that room woke up to find him standing over her, holding the Sawzall blade. She asked him why he was in her room, and he reportedly said, “I need to use the phone.” She said he hovered over her with the blade, rocking back and forth “in a bizarre manner,” then put the blade down on a chair and took her phone. The officer said this victim was extremely upset when he interviewed her. Gladin allegedly picked up a knife in the kitchen of that apartment before leaving, and the knife was found outside the apartment.

At about 9:15 a.m., Gladin allegedly entered a third apartment by opening the front door; the officer reported that it is currently unknown whether the door was unlocked or he forced it open. Gladin reportedly stood in the doorway while the occupants of the apartment told him to leave. One occupant tried to close the door, but Gladin allegedly grabbed her by her arms and pulled her outside before slamming the door to separate her from her roommate. He allegedly pulled her down the breezeway against her will until her roommate came outside and started shouting at him.

Officers found Gladin exiting a vehicle that belonged to an occupant of the second apartment; he allegedly resisted by pulling away and flailing his arms and legs but was eventually taken into custody. The arresting officer reported that he made “several bizarre and seemingly nonsensical statements” and exhibited other behaviors that led the officer to believe he had recently used drugs.

The wallet, keys, and phone stolen from the second apartment were found in the vehicle, along with a glass pipe used for smoking narcotics.

Gladin has been charged with attempted burglary with damage over $1,000, armed home invasion robbery, armed burglary of a dwelling or vehicle, kidnapping, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, resisting an officer without violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gladin has 21 felony convictions (non-violent) and 19 misdemeanor convictions (two violent); he has served six state prison sentences, all out of Alachua County, and was most recently released in January 2025. He is currently on probation until 2027 for grand theft of a motor vehicle. He is a designated Career Offender. Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial on five of the charges; she set bail at $30,000 on the remaining two charges.

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.